Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky- (noun) Invented or meaningless language, nonsense
Term originated from Lewis Carroll's classic nonsensical poem, Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky, included in Lewis Carroll's well known story of Alice's Adventures through the Looking-Glass, is one of the most famous poems in recent history. Most of his words are nonsensical, yet from the mere context, we can derive those which are nouns, adjectives, and verbs. Some of these portmanteaus, or combined words, have been included in the modern dictionary.

Today, we ask you to find the words in the excerpts of this poem that have been adopted into the modern english language. More complicated words are emboldened, to make it easier. All the words you need to find will be within those that are bold.


Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"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.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.