kraken
noun
- gigantic tentacled sea monster of Scandinavian myth
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈkɹæ.kən/ / /ˈkɹɑː.kən/ / /ˈkɹeɪ.kən/
name
Etymology: Borrowed from Norwegian kraken (Bokmål entry; Nynorsk entry), definite singular of krake (“crooked dead tree, wooden drag/grapnel”) (Bokmål entry; Nynorsk entry), both from Old Norse kraki (“crooked dead tree, wooden drag/grapnel”, literally “crookie: something with crooks/hooks”), from Proto-Germanic *krankaz (“crooked”).
- A colossal sea monster that attacks ships and sailors, often portrayed as a giant octopus or squid.
noun
Etymology: Borrowed from Norwegian kraken (Bokmål entry; Nynorsk entry), definite singular of krake (“crooked dead tree, wooden drag/grapnel”) (Bokmål entry; Nynorsk entry), both from Old Norse kraki (“crooked dead tree, wooden drag/grapnel”, literally “crookie: something with crooks/hooks”), from Proto-Germanic *krankaz (“crooked”).
- Short for Kraken variant (“SARS-CoV-2 virus variant XBB.1.5”).