The first lines of the poem contain words that are not common to any language, because they have no origin other than that of Carroll's mind. Strange words appear instantly, such as "brillig", "slithe" and "toves". Explained in context by Humpty Dumpty, these are combinations, made up of or derived from existing words. The word "slithe" mixes "slimy" and "soft" to describe a "tove" or a type of badger with long hind legs, horns and a thirst for cheese. “Brillig” is derived from the verb “to grill” and contains the definition of “a time at which dinner is grilled in the late afternoon.” This gibberish immediately engages the reader's attention and imagination, if the title itself did not already do so..