CLAS224 Word Elements. Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois
Instructor: Thomas J. Sienkewicz (toms@monm.edu)
Some "Jabberwocky" Blends Explained
brillig (derived from the verb to bryl or broil): the time of broiling dinner, i.e. the close of the afternoon.
slythy (compounded of slimy and lithe): smooth and active.
tove: a species of Badger. They had smooth white hair, long hind legs, and short horns like a stag; lived chiefly on
cheese.
gyre: verb (derived from gyaour or giaour, a dog). To scratch like a dog.
gymble: (whence gimblet). To screw out holes in anything.
wabe: (derived from the verb swab or soak). The side of a hill (from its being soaked by the rain).
mimsy: (whence mimserable and miserable). Unhappy.
borogove: An extinct kind of Parrot. They had no wings, beaks turned up, and made their nests under sun dials: lived on
veal.
mome: (hence Solemome, solemon, and soiemn). Grave.
rath: A species of land turtle. Head erect: mouth like a shark: forelegs curved out so that the animal walked on its knees:
smooth green body: lived on swallows and oysters.
outgrabe: past tense of the verb to outgribe. (It is connected with old verb to grike, or shrike, from which are derived
shriek and creak). Squeaked.