To "GIMBLE"
is to make holes like a gimblet.'
`And "THE WABE" is the grass-plot round a sun-dial, I suppose?'
said Alice, surprised at her own ingenuity.
`Of course it is. It's called "WABE," you know, because it goes a
long way before it, and a long way behind it -- '
`And a long way beyond it on each side,' Alice added.
`Exactly so. Well, then, "MIMSY" is "flimsy and miserable"
(there's another portmanteau for you). And a "BOROGOVE" is a thing
shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round --
something like a live mop.'
`And then "MOME RATHS"?' said Alice. `I'm afraid I'm giving you a
great deal of trouble.'
`Well, a "RATH" is a sort of green pig: but "MOME" I'm not certain
about. I think it's short for "from home" -- meaning that they'd
lost their way, you know.'
`And what does "OUTGRABE" mean?'
`Well, "OUTGRIBING" is something between bellowing and whistling,
with a kind of sneeze in the middle: however, you'll hear it done,
maybe -- down in the wood yonder -- and when you've once heard it
you'll be QUITE content. Who's been repeating all that hard stuff to
you?'
`I read it in a book,' said Alice.
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