preke

noun

1. (obsolete)An octopus or similar marine organism, such as a cuttlefish or squid.

   “Describing also what he calls the Preke or Poulps, Polypus. 'Tis, he says, a naked Fish, having eight Fingers or Arms, spread out almost like the Rays of a Star-Fish, and the Mouth in a Manner in the Middle of them.”

   “A climbing fish was known to the Greeks; but though mentioned by Oppian, in about twenty different parts of his "Halieuticks," and most curious qualities attributed to it, we do not correctly know this fish, the preke: "he has eight long legs or fibres, four on each side of his head, which serve him to crawl, cling to the rocks, and entangle his prey."”