Krampus
12
9.9
- proper noun
- /ˈkræmpəs/
- Literature
:
Krampus
- During the Christmas season, parents tell their children that Krampus will come if they misbehave.
Examples
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You all forget the other helper in this is Krampus, who would work with Santa to punish the children who are bad.
Blog text (12) -
But, as Santa delivers presents to all of the good girls and boys, there is an all but forgotten tale of the yule Lord, Krampus.
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Why would any parent want to invite the Krampus to their kid's party?
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They also said that Krampus is going to come visit us this Christmas.
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But, as the new lists of bad children are generated, Krampus only has until the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve to complete his tasks.
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In folklore, Krampus is known for punishing naughty children instead of rewarding them like St. Nicholas.
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Legend has it that Krampus roams the streets at night, searching for children who have been bad all year.
Synonyms
15
9.9
An imaginary creature parents mention to frighten children
Surface Forms
Etymology
Krampus comes from old German-speaking parts of Central Europe and likely from krampen, a word meaning 'claw' or 'hook'. The image of a horned, clawed creature that punishes naughty children explains why the name means that scary Christmas being.