Jabberwocky

Jabberwocky is a style of nonsense verse made famous by Lewis Carroll's poem of the same name. It uses invented words, playful sound patterns, and grammatical hints that let the reader sense meaning even when the words themselves are unfamiliar.

Writers may use jabberwocky to create comic, dreamlike, or absurd effects, or to show how rhythm and sound can carry sense beyond literal language.

Example

Through the gloam of snickered dusk
The moon went blibble-blight;
A flummer fox with velvet whisk
Went whiffling out of sight.

Related Definitions

[n] nonsensical language (according to Lewis Carroll)

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