makaran.
/ˈmʌkərə/, U.S. /ˈməkərə/ A mythical crocodile or other sea animal, variously represented in Indian art; (in Indian contexts) the equivalent of Capricorn in the signs of the zodiac.
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the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > mythical creature or object > [noun] > aquatic monster or serpent
nickerOE
cetec1220
dragona1340
serra1449
hurlpool1553
afanc1573
orcc1590
sea monster1600
Hydrus1667
sea-dragon1749
kraken1755
sea-snake1755
Midgard1770
the (great) sea-serpent1774
sea-worm1799
taniwha1840
makara1873
Mamlambo1919
lau1923
Ogopogo1926
1873 E. Balfour Cycl. India (ed. 2) III. M 58/2 Kama..bears on his banner the fish Makara, an aquatic monster something like the sign of the zodiac Capricornus.
1901 A. C. Gibson tr. A. Gruenwedel Buddhist Art India ii. 57 The sea-elephant, Makara, a creature formed of the fore~part of an elephant with the body and tail of a fish..has been retained everywhere in Indian art.
1934 Burlington Mag. Oct. 164/1 But essentially Indian is the Makara, a phantastic animal which, since the days of King Asoka, has played a part in Indian art; it is seen on toranas of all times;..it followed the spread of Indian art to the islands,..whilst it lives a prolific life on all sorts of minor objects in Ceylon.
1969 A. K. Coomaraswamy Introd. Indian Art (ed. 2) ix. 42 Decorative work with makaras and other marine monsters [is] represented.
1971 Illustr. Weekly India 11 Apr. 67/2 (December 21 to Jan. 19) Capricorn (Makara). Frankness with friends may make you happy till midweek.
1985 Ashmolean Winter 11/1 A band with sculpture in low relief depicts..a makara, a semi-aquatic mythical sea-monster, and..a pair of geese, all favourites of classical Indian myth.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1873