borogove

English

Alternative forms

• borogrove

Etymology

Coined by Lewis Carroll in 1855.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɒɹə(ʊ)ɡəʊv/

Noun

borogove (plural borogoves)

1. An animal introduced in the nonsense poem Jabberwocky. According to Humpty Dumpty, a borogove is "a thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round, something like a live mop." According to Mischmasch, it is "an extinct kind of parrot. They had no wings, beaks turned up, and made their nests under sun-dials: lived on veal."
   • 2006, David Brown, Kara Willey, The Worlds of Naughtenny Moore, →ISBN:

     The borogove let out a quiet chirp. Another, larger borogove squirmed in through the hole in the fabric.

   • 2013, Mel Gilden, The Jabberwock Came Whiffling: A Novel of Fantasy, →ISBN, page 22:

     Its knee bent the wrong way, though Albert thought it was certainly the right way for the borogove . Another borogove popped out of the forest and followed the first across the road, then a third and a fourth .

   • 2014, Daniel Coleman, Jabberwocky: A Novel, →ISBN:

     It smelled like a wet borogove.

   • 2015, Donald Weis, Monster Lore 2, →ISBN, page 12:

     With the Borogove's long legs, they hop and step over some incoming attacks.