The kraken was so convincing that Linnaeus classified it as a real animal in his first taxonomy — and giant squid over 40 feet long suggest the legend may have a biological basis.
A legendary enormous sea monster said to dwell off the coasts of Norway and Greenland, often depicted as a giant squid or octopus.
From Norwegian and Swedish kraken (the definite form of krake, meaning an unhealthy or twisted animal, or a tree stump). The word entered English through Scandinavian sailors' accounts of enormous sea creatures. The kraken legend may be based on real sightings