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In a letter to a school which wanted to name their school magazine 'Jabberwocky', Lewis Carroll wrote:
He [Carroll] finds that the Anglo-Saxon word "wocer" or "wocor" signifies "offspring" or "fruit." Taking "jabber" in its ordinary acceptation of "excited and voluble discussion," this would give the meaning of "the result of much excited discussion."So, by this definition, 'Jabberwocky' means 'the fruit of excited discussion'.
source: Martin Gardner's Annotated Alice
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll that first appeared in his novel "Through the Looking-Glass." The word itself has no specific meaning, as it was created by Carroll to evoke a sense of whimsy and fantasy in the poem.
The second stanza of Jabberwocky is a warning from a person who is presumably the father of the hero of the story. He warns his son to be careful of and to avoid three different monsters; the Jabberwock, the Jubjub bird and the Bandersnatch. The third of these monsters is described as 'frumious', a word which Lewis Carroll said means 'fuming and furious'.
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought-
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought."
So, we see that the basic story relates to a hunt for the Jabberwock, who is some kind of fearsome foe. Three words from these two stanzas are "new" in English, with frumious and manxome being portmanteau words (the former probably collapsing furious and fuming--though why then the presence of the "r"?; the latter being a combination of manly and buxom--"buxom" related to men for the majority of its history), while the other (vorpal) has been taken up in many contexts in English (just do a "Google" search on the word), even though it isn't really a part of spoken or literary English.
In the next section of the poem a word appears that was invented by Carroll and still survives today: chortle.
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Explained by Humpty Dumpty to Alice;
"Brillig" means four o'clock in the afternoon -- the time when you begin broiling things for dinner.'
Well, "slithy" means "lithe and slimy." "Lithe" is the same as "active." You see it's like a portmanteau -- there are two meanings packed up into one word.'
"toves" are something like badgers -- they're something like lizards -- and they're something like corkscrews.'
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What does the word wabe mean in jabberwocky?
a grass plot or sundial
What does uffish mean from jabberwocky?
In "Jabberwocky," the word "uffish" is used to describe the demeanor or expression of the character. It suggests a sense of irritability, impatience, or grumpiness.
What does hast mean from jabberwocky?
"Hast" in the poem "Jabberwocky" means to have or possess something. It is an old English word that is used to indicate possession or ownership, similar to "has."
What does gyre mean from jabberwocky?
In "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll, the word "gyre" refers to a spiraling or twisting motion. The poem's language is mostly nonsensical and meant to create a whimsical and imaginative atmosphere.
What does brilling mean in the jabberwocky?
"Brilling" in "Jabberwocky" likely means to roar or bellow loudly. The term is a nonsense word created by Lewis Carroll to add to the whimsical and fantastical nature of the poem.
What does chortled mean from jabberwocky?
In "Jabberwocky," "chortled" is likely used by Lewis Carroll to describe a combination of chuckling and snorting with delight or satisfaction. The word itself is a playful and whimsical creation that captures the unique and fantastical tone of the poem.
What does toves mean in jabberwocky?
In "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll, the word "toves" is a whimsical term for a creature. The poem is meant to be nonsense verse and uses invented words like "toves" to create a fantastical and surreal atmosphere.
What does briling mean?
Broiling is another name for Grilling, Brillig is a nonsense word from the poem Jabberwocky. Briling can be a surname, but I'm not aware of another meaning.
What does borogroves in jabberwocky mean?
A bird with feathers sticking out. It is a scruffy thin bird.
Can you say someone is a jabberwocky?
You could, but it depends what you mean. If you mean the person is a horrible beast, then you might want to say "Jabberwock" instead. The poem itself is called "Jabberwocky," so you would only be calling someone a poem.
What does 'beamish boy' mean in Jabberwocky?
"Beamish boy" in the poem "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll is believed to describe a lively and enthusiastic youth. The word "beamish" doesn't have a specific definition and is thought to be a made-up term by Carroll.
What a slithy tove does?
Nothing. It's a made up nonsense word, as is most of Jabberwocky
