- Today's Word
Jabberwocky
[JAB-er-wok-ee]
Definition
- (noun) Nonsensical language or meaningless speech. It’s often used to describe writing or speech that sounds impressive or important but actually has little or no meaning.
Example
The politician’s speech was full of jabberwocky, using big words and complex phrases that sounded important but ultimately said nothing of substance.
Fun Fact
“Jabberwocky” comes from Lewis Carroll’s 1871 novel “Through the Looking-Glass.” It’s the title of a nonsense poem that begins “Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe.” Many of the words in the poem are inventions, demonstrating Carroll’s skill at creating words that sound meaningful but have no actual definition.
(verb) To obtain something by persuasion, scheming, or clever manipulation.
He managed to wangle an invitation to the exclusive event through a friend of a friend.
Late 19th century: originally printers’ slang, possibly an alteration of “waggle” meaning “to move unsteadily,” suggesting indirect or roundabout methods.