Jabberwocky is a famous nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll in his 1871 book Through the Looking-Glass. The poem tells the story of a young hero who slays a fearsome creature called the Jabberwock, but most of the words Carroll uses don't exist in any dictionary. Lines like “Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyre and gimble in the wabe” sound like they mean something, even though words like “brillig” and “slithy” are pure invention.

What makes the poem remarkable is that readers can still follow the story despite the made-up words. The structure of the sentences and a few real words scattered throughout give you just enough clues to understand what's happening. When you read about something “burbling” as it comes through the “tulgey wood,” you get a sense of movement and danger even without knowing what “tulgey” means.

Today, people use jabberwocky to describe nonsensical speech or writing that sounds impressive but means nothing. If someone uses lots of complicated-sounding words without actually saying anything useful, you might call it jabberwocky. The poem itself, though, was meant to be playful and fun, showing how the sound and rhythm of language can create a feeling of meaning all on its own.