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Joint: A leg of meat.

Jubjub Bird: A dangerous predatory bird, primarily found lurking and hooting on Jabberwock Isle.

Kid-Gloves: Gloves made from the leather of young goat.

Larboard: Port; the left-hand side of a ship. (In later times, it was decided that “larboard” was too easy to mistake with “starboard,” especially during storms.)

Limed Twig: A twig covered in sticky birdlime, used to catch birds and other small animals (such as crabs).

Lory: A small, brightly-plumaged parrot.

Macassar-Oil: Victorian hair oil, used by gentlemen.

Manxome: Fearsome and island-dwelling. The word is probably derived from “Manx,” meaning “from the Isle of Man.”

Marmalade: A drink made from boiled fruit preserves and sugar.

Menai Bridge: One of the earliest modern suspension bridges, built in 1826.

Mimsiest: The most flimsy and miserable state possible for a living creature.

Mimsy: A portmanteau of “flimsy” and “miserable.”

Mince-Pie: A pastry filled with mincemeat (a mixture of spiced beef, fruit and distilled spirits).

Mock Turtle: A curious creature of Wonderland, with the body of a turtle and the head of a calf.

Mome: An archaic contraction of “from home,” which is to say “lost.”

Morcar: The Earl of Northumbria in 1066 A.D. Along with his elder brother Edwin, he supported Edgar Atheling against the Normans.

Muchness: A lavish amount of something; or, just extravagance in general.

Mutton-Pie: A lamb’s meat pie.

Natural History: The science of researching plants and animals, primarily through observation (as opposed to experimentation).

Northumbria: A kingdom of medieval England, prior to the Norman invasion. The land is currently known as the County of Northumberland.

Nosegay: A small bouquet of flowers, typically given as a gift.

Nurse: In Victorian use, a female servant entrusted with the care of the children.

Outgrabe: A strange sound of surprise or despair, which sounds like bellowing, whistling and sneezing, all at once.

Papers: Victorian hair curlers.

Plaster: A small bandage.

Portmanteau: A suitcase which has two identically-sized compartments. (In Humpty Dumpty’s usage, a portmanteau is a word with two meanings, or a word made up of two other words; such as “slithy” from “lithe” and “slimy.”)

Quadrille: A formal and difficult Victorian dance, emphasizing the importance of pairs’ coordination.

Railway-Share: A stock investing in trains and railroads. Due to the rapid and wild growth of the English rail system in Victorian times, railway-shares were potentially lucrative but very risky investments.

Rath: Greenish, pig-like creatures which tend to wander about in an aimless fashion, squealing all the while.

Sal-Volatile: Smelling salts.

Sealing-Wax: Wax which is melted and then allowed to cool, creative a seal to keep a letter or scroll closed.

Set to Partners: A slight formal dance move, in which two partners face one another and hop from one foot to the other.

Sha’n’t: The Victorian contraction for “shall not.” (The apostrophes, as placed, are Carroll’s preference.)

Shavings: Small pieces of wood.

Slithy: A portmanteau of “lithe” and “slimy,” with a hint of “slithering.”

Snark: A fabulous creature, particularly found on Jabberwock Isle. Snarks may be created from the stray fears and secret doubts of adventurous dreamers.

Snarked: To be stuck in an impossible way, or in an impossible place. (Alice could be said to be “snarked” when she falls into Wonderland.)

Snicker-Snack: The sound and motion of a very sharp blade which is being used in battle. The term comes from the “snickersnee,” an antiquated combat knife.

Soup-Tureen: A large, deep serving dish.

Spright: A small fairy (sprite, pixie). In Carroll’s poetic use, this probably means “sprightliness,” or animated and vivacious gestures.

Starboard: The right-hand side of a ship. Compare Larboard.

Stigand: An English churchman prior to the Norman conquest.

Stuff: Informal interjection, meaning “rubbish.”

Suet: Hard fatty tissue