Grootslang

English

Etymology

Afrikaans Grootslang (“Great Snake”), from groot (“great, big”) +‎ slang (“snake”).

Noun

Grootslang (plural Grootslangs)

1. Alternative letter-case form of grootslang, referring to the specific primordial, one which is reputed to live in a cave in South Africa connected to the sea.
   • 2014, Jamie Frater, Listverse.com's Epic Book of Mind-Boggling Lists: Unbelievable Facts and Astounding Trivia on Movies, Music, Crime, Celebrities, History, and More, →ISBN, page 138:

     At night, a cryptid known as the Grootslang is supposed to emerge from the cave and lure prey back into its lair. Shaped like a monstrous elephant with the tail of a snake, the Grootslang feeds on trespassers and fiercely guards a stash of thousands of diamonds and gemstones. The most popular story about the Grootslang comes from the escapades of British explorer Peter Grayson. In 1917, lured by the stories of diamonds in the Bottomless Pit, Grayson took a small team of men ...

   • 2016, Shannon Watters, Noelle Stevenson, Grace Ellis, Lumberjanes To The Max, →ISBN, page 157:

     The Grootslang is one of the most ancient and powerful of all legendary beasts.

   • 2016, Peter Nelson, Creature Keepers and the Burgled Blizzard-Bristles, →ISBN:

     “The South African Grootslang was seen swimming up the coast of Madagascar. And the Australian Bunyip was spotted standing on a beach a bit north of Perth, just staring out over the water. Definitely weird, but nothing Kriss, Mac, and Nessie can't get to the bottom of.”