kraken

American  

[krah-kuhn] / ˈkrɑ kən /

noun

(often initial capital letter)

1. a legendary sea monster causing large whirlpools off the coast of Norway.

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kraken British  

/ ˈkrɑːkən /

noun

1. a legendary sea monster of gigantic size believed to dwell off the coast of Norway

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Usage

Why is kraken trending? On July 23, 2020, searches for kraken increased 4,782% compared to the previous week after the National Hockey League (NHL) announced its newest team in Seattle, Washington, will be known as the Kraken.

Etymology

Origin of kraken

From Norwegian

Example Sentences

The team - led by Christine Close, a sculptor based in France - carved a kraken eating a boat as part of the myths and legends theme set by the competition organisers.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

First we find the kraken, then we slay the kraken, then we practice safety in handling seafood, then we learn about parasites and the cooking methods that kill them, then we eat.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2024

But when Ruby breaks it to save her favorite skater boy, she discovers a family secret: She’s kraken royalty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2023

One of the themes of “Ruby Gillman” is finding family and learning about her kraken heritage as she connects with a Grandmamah she didn’t know about.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 29, 2023

She held him close, and steam rose from her wet clothing, and she smiled, for the first time since the kraken, into his feathers.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell