Where does “kraken” come from?

kraken (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch krakōn, from Proto-Indo-European gerg-, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

kraken (Middle Dutch): to crack, crackle

Definitions

  1. to crack, crackle

Ancestry of “kraken”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchkrakōnto crack, creak, emit a cry
2Proto-Indo-Europeangerg-to shout; tracery, basket, twist; wicker, bend
3Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gerg- →Every word from Old Dutch krakōn →