10 best words from 'Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary'

Entertainment Weekly
Updated

The Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary offers readers the chance to peruse all of Roald Dahl's incredible language both English and self-made from his canon of children's books. This quirky, brightly illustrated children’s reference book defines not just English terms but hundreds of “gobblefunk” ones as well - the wacky tongue twisters Dahl made up and strewed throughout his books.

Here are 10 of EW's favorite original Roald Dahl words from the Oxford Roald Dahl Dictionary.

1. Babblement/noun

A conversation
Example: “You is trying to change the subject,” the Giant said sternly. “We is having an interesting babblement about the taste of a human bean.” - The BFG

2. Crabcruncher/noun

A cliff-dwelling creature
Example: “We will spear the blabbersnitch and trap the crabcruncher and shot the gobblesquat.” -The Witches

3. Frumpet/noun

If you call someone a trumpet (not that you would), you mean that they are old and unattractive
Example: Mrs. Twit…suddenly called out at the top of her voice, ‘Here I come, you grizzly, old grunion! You rotten old turnip! You filthy old frumpet!” - The Twits

4. Whangdoodle/noun

The whangdoodle is a terrifying creature that lives in Loompaland and preys on Oompa-Loompas. Whangdoodles have enormous appetites and can eat more than ten Oompa-Loompas in a single meal. Some whangdoodles, such as the rare spotted whangdoodle, have patterned hides.
Example: “And go what a terrible country it is! Nothing but thick jungles infested by the most dangerous beasts in the world - hornswogglers and snozzwangers and those terrible wicked whangdoodles.” - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

5. Knickle/verb

If a Gnooly knuckles you, it does unspeakably nasty things to you (and you probably won’t survive).
Example: “I don’t want to be a Minus!’ croaked Grandma Georgina. ‘If I ever have to go back to that beastly Minusland again, the Gnoolies will knuckle me!” - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

6. Grimesludge/noun

Thick mud
Example: “By googles,” he said, taking the jar out of the suitcase, “your head is not quite so full of grimesludge after all.” - The BFG

7. Mushious/adjective

Mushy in texture but quite tasty
Example: It’s luscious, it’s super/it’s mushious, it’s duper/It’s better than rotten old fish..” - The Enormous Crocodile

8. Churgle/verb

When you churl, you gurgle with laughter.
Example: The fact that is was none other than Boggis’s chickens they were going to eat made them churgle with laughter every time they thought of it. - Fantastic Mr. Fox

9. Sogmire/noun

An area of boggy (and very soggy) ground
Example: “in the quality quaggy sogmire,/In the mashy mideous harshland,/At the witchy hour of gloominess,/All the grobes come oozing home.” - Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

10. Slugburger/noun

A burger made with slugs
Example: “I can mince it all up very fine and you won’t know the difference. Lovely slugburgers. Delicious.” - The Magic Finger