What does the word "Vorpal" come from?

[Li Shenron]

Sorry for the very uninteresting topic, but I was asked this myself and couldn't answer at all... Is it an actual english word or something else? I apologize for my ignorance.

 

[Bloodstone Press]

The only other place I've ever seen it is in the Jabberwocky...

"his vorpal blade went snicker-snack."

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Hehe so a piece of D&D landmark would come from one of the Python guys? That would make sense, since they're referenced so much in games already

AR

 

[Brother MacLaren]

Not the movie Jabberwocky - the poem, by Lewis Carrol.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Yep, it is one of the words that the good Mr. Dodgson created for his works:

Dodgson's Explanation to Maud Standen

"I am afraid I can't explain 'vorpal blade' for you--nor yet 'tulgey wood', but I did make an explanation once for 'uffish thought'! It seemed to suggest a state of mind when the voice is gruffish, the manner roughish, and the temper huffish. Then again, as to 'burble', if you take the three verbs 'bleat, murmer, and warble, then select the bits I have underlined, it certainly makes 'burble', though I am afraid I can't distinctly remember having made it in that way."

--Letter, December 1877

The Auld Grump

*EDIT* Yes, Lewis Carroll and Dodgson are the same person.... Lewis Carroll being a pen name he created by translating his name into Latin, then back -it was being done for a long time before Babelfish came into being.

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Not the movie Jabberwocky - the poem, by Lewis Carrol.

Yeah but... that poem... was inspired by the movie... no?

look over there!

*runs away*

AR

 

[Piratecat]

Jabberwocky

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

`Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!'

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

`And has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898)

 

[johnsemlak]

Well, I looked it up in two online dictionaries (at www.m-w.com and www.cambridge.org/elt ) and the world 'vorpal' as spelled didn't come up in either one.

 

[Hand of Evil]

It may be a latin, greek, german, irish, scotish. Basic slang or dead language.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Well, I looked it up in two online dictionaries (at www.m-w.com and www.cambridge.org/elt ) and the world 'vorpal' as spelled didn't come up in either one.

That is because 'vorpal' is a nonsense word created by Carroll for his nonsense poem.

Piratecat: You beat me to it by seconds, when I went to add the poem but your version (with the Tenniel illustration) was already there in the latest post summary that accompanies posting... *Shakes fist*

The Auld Grump