sea drake

Noun

sea drake (plural sea drakes)

1. A sea dragon.
   • When, after the death of the son, Beowulf and his companions pursued the mother into her retreat, they found the water full of sea-drakes and serpents (wyrm-cynnes fela), and nicers lying on the banks.1834 July, “The National Fairy Mythology of England”, in Fraser's Magazine for Town and Country, volume 10, page 53
   • Sea drakes are also known to travel up the Rhone river to spawn in Lake Geneva, creating a hazard for shipping.2011, Jason Rice, Brent Evanger, Kingdoms of Legend: Knights of France, page 23
2. (UK) The pewit gull, or sea cormorant (Corvus marinus)
   • The gardener found birds frozen to their branches, yet at the base of the same tree, a flock of sea-drakes and hens were perfectly unharmed!2024, David Marcum, The MX Book of New Sherlock Holmes Stories - Part XLIV
3. (US) A male eider.
   • Another of our regular visiters from the North is the EIDER DUCK , which furnishes the fine down that is so valuable an article of commerce. On our coast this bird is commonly known by the name of the SEA DRAKE.1832, The New-England Magazine - Volume 2, page 103
   • They are universally known as "Sea-ducks," the males being always distinguished as "Sea-drakes."1862, Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, page 240