Portmanteau

Here's a good outlet for creative energy, a project my gradeschool writing classes have enjoyed. Create a portmanteau.

A portmanteau is what we Yanks call a suitcase. When it comes to writing, a portmanteau, or "suitcase word" holds two words "shut up inside." Lewis Carroll gave us many fine examples in Through the Looking Glass, especially in the poem "Jabberwocky," which I will now attempt to recite by heart.

Live, over the blogosphere...

For the first time ever...

Ahem. (Reciting.)

Jabberwocky
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogroves and the momeraths 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 blade in hand, long time the maxome foe he sought.
And rested he by the tumtum tree and stood a while in thought.
Then through the burbling wood it came, his vorpal blade went snicker snack.
He left it dead and with his head he went galumphing back.

And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms my beamish boy!
Calloo! Callay! Oh frabjous day! He chortled in his joy.


All right, now I see I've butchered several lines. And misspelled manxome and callooh. Criminy! Please see the correct version here. But you get the idea. Note all the portmanteau, a few of which I shall explain forthwith.

Brillig is the time of day when you broil an egg. Thus, the suitcase holds two words: broil and egg.

Slithy (one of my favorites), is a combination of lithe and slimy. Now there's a word that should come in handy.

Chortle is one that stands out because, after being invented by Carroll in this way, it became commonly used.

Your job is to put two words together, creating an entirely new word, a portmanteau. Send me your portmanteau. What is the meaning of your invention? What are its parts?

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