: a gigantic tentacled sea monster of Scandinavian myth
Mythical krakens are now thought of as giant squid or octopuses, capable of bringing down a ship with their tentacled arms. But many of the earliest kraken reports were of creatures so enormous that they grew vegetation on their backs like islands. Stephanie Pappas
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe story will include the Calico Jade pirate character plus monkeys, flamingos and a kraken, Legoland says. Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2022 In one, the tentacles of a kraken envelop a Viking longship. Kent Russell, Harper’s Magazine , 25 May 2022 For those without social media feeds, García unleashed a kraken of a throw from right field, clocked at 95.5 mph, that reached home plate on the fly.Dallas News, 24 Sep. 2021 Similar sightings of giant oarfish, giant squid and other undersea giants led early sailors to weave tales about sea serpents, the kraken and other beasts. Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Dec. 2020 The kraken of Nordic legends was likely based on actual sightings of giant squid and octopuses, but folklore embellished it into a monstrosity capable of creating massive whirlpools and swallowing up even the largest ships. Ben Zimmer, WSJ, 3 Dec. 2020 The kraken has taken on many shapes in the minds of mariners and in the renderings of artists. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2020 The kraken’s more ancient origins are in Nordic folklore. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2020 Linnaeus classified the kraken as a cephalopod, the group that includes octopuses, squid and cuttlefish. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 July 2020 See More