English Explanatory Dictionary

Jabberwock

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A fantastical dreaded monster with flaming eyes.

Pronunciation

En-us-Jabberwock.oga

Word forms

Jabberwock the Jabberwock

Etymology

Nonsense word coined by British author and scholar Lewis Carroll in his poem Jabberwocky (q.v.), from the children's book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1872). Carroll stated later, "The Anglo-Saxon word 'wocer' or 'wocor' signifies 'offspring' or 'fruit' [see oker]. Taking 'jabber' in its ordinary acceptation of 'excited and voluble discussion', this would give the meaning of 'the result of much excited and voluble discussion'..."

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