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'Twas Brilig is a short song featured in the 1951 Disney feature film, Alice in Wonderland, it is sung by the Cheshire Cat.

The song's lyrics are actually the first stanza of the Jabberwocky poem by Lewis Carroll, from the book Through the Looking-Glass (an early rendition of Alice in Wonderland).

Lyrics[]

'Twas Brillig
And the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe
All mimsy were the borogoves
And the mome raths outgrabe
(Repeat verse)

Meaning behind the lyrics[]

The meaning behind each word was discussed within the novel Through the Looking-Glass by the character Humpty Dumpty. Each word was described as such:

  • Brillig: a specific time "four o'clock in the afternoon, the time when you begin broiling things for dinner."
  • Slithy: mixture of the words "lithe" and "slimy".
  • Tove: a creature that is a mixture between a badger, a lizard and a corkscrew.
  • Gyre: to go around like a gyroscope.
  • Gimble: "to make holes like a gimlet."
  • Wabe: a small spot of land underneath a sundial, called such because it "goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it".
  • Mimsy: mixture of "flimsy" and "miserable".
  • Borogove: a thin, tall looking bird.
  • Mome: to feeling of losing or longing for home (Humpty Dumpty was uncertain of the definition).
  • Rath: a green pig.
  • Outgrabe: a strange act of "something between bellowing and whistling, with a kind of sneeze in the middle".

In the movie, Mome Raths are depicted as small colorful little creatures.

Gallery[]


v - e - d
Alice in Wonderland logo 2011
Media
Films: Alice in Wonderland (video/soundtrack)

TV Series: Adventures in Wonderland (Episode List) • A Poem Is...Alice's Wonderland Bakery (Episode List)
Shorts and Specials: A Lesson in Appreciating DifferencesDonald in Mathmagic LandWriting Magic with Figment and Alice in WonderlandOne Hour in WonderlandOperation Wonderland
Books: Wonderland
Video Games: Kingdom HeartsKingdom Hearts: Chain of MemoriesKingdom Hearts 358/2 DaysKingdom Hearts coded Kingdom Hearts χ Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ/Union χ2000 gameAlice no Paint AdventureKinect: Disneyland AdventuresHidden WorldsDisney Magical WorldDisney UniverseDisney's Villains' RevengeDisney Emoji BlitzDisney Sorcerer's ArenaDisney Heroes: Battle ModeDisney All-Star RacersDisney All-Star Party
Music: Alice and the Mad Tea PartyAlice and the TrialAlice and the White RabbitLittle Nipper Giant Storybook Record Album
Cancelled projects: 1933 film1939 film

Disney Parks
Alice's Curious LabyrinthAlice in WonderlandClub VillainDisney Animation BuildingIt's a Small WorldMad Tea PartyMickey Mouse RevueStorybook Land Canal Boats

Entertainment: Alice & the Queen of Hearts: Back to WonderlandCinderellabration: Lights of RomanceMickey's Gift of DreamsMickey's Magical Music WorldMickey presents: “Happy Anniversary Disneyland Paris”Once Upon a MouseOne Man's DreamSoryo Kobu
Restaurants: March Hare RefreshmentsCheshire Cafe
Parades: Celebrate A Dream Come True ParadeDisney's Dreams On Parade: Moving OnDisney's Magical Moments ParadeDisney's Party ExpressDisney Carnivale ParadeDisney Magic on ParadeDisney on ParadeDisney Stars on ParadeDreaming Up!Dreams.... And Shine Brighter!Festival of Fantasy ParadeHappiness is Here ParadeMain Street Electrical ParadeMickey's New Year's Eve ParadeMickey's Rainy Day ExpressMove It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street PartySpectroMagicWalt Disney's Parade of Dreams
Fireworks: Believe... There's Magic in the StarsCelebrate the MagicDisney in the StarsDisney EnchantmentOnce Upon a TimeRemember... Dreams Come TrueWonderful World of AnimationWorld of ColorWondrous Journeys
Spring: Disney's Easter WonderlandDisney's Spring PromenadeMinnie's Little Spring TrainHippity Hoppity SpringtimeUsatama on the Run!
Summer: Mickey's WaterWorks
Halloween: Disney's Maleficious Halloween PartyDisney's Not So Spooky SpectacularDisney Villains Wicked GatheringFrightfully Fun ParadeHappy HallowishesHouse of De Vil-lainsInferno Dance PartyIt's Good to be Bad with the Disney VillainsJack Skellington’s Villainous GatheringRe-Villains! Halloween ParadeVillains GroveVillains Mix and MingleVillains Night Out!
Christmas: A Christmas Fantasy ParadeDisney's White Holiday ParadeMickey's Most Merriest Celebration

Characters
Alice in Wonderland: AliceDinahAlice's SisterMad HatterMarch HareDormouseWhite RabbitCheshire CatThe DoorknobDodoToucanHawkCaucus Race AnimalsTweedle Dee and Tweedle DumThe Walrus and the CarpenterCurious OystersBill the LizardFlowers of WonderlandCaterpillarHammer and Pencil BirdsMome RathsCard SoldiersQueen of HeartsKing of HeartsFlamingosHedgehogsBread-and-ButterfliesRocking HorseflyGlasses BirdMirror BirdHorn DucksUmbrella VulturesShovel BirdCage BirdAccordion Owl

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: AliceHattie HatterFergie the White RabbitRosa CorazónQueen of HeartsTweedle Do and Tweedle Don'tMilly
Other: Mary AnnHumpty Dumpty

Objects
Drink Me BottleEat Me CookiesWhite Rabbit's Watch
Locations
WonderlandThe ExteriorFish DinnersWhite Rabbit's HouseShorelineThe Meadow of Living FlowersThe MushroomThe Mad Hatter's HouseThe Queen of Hearts' CastleWonderland MazeTulgey WoodEnglandLondon
Songs
Alice in Wonderland: Alice in WonderlandIn a World of My OwnI'm LateSailor's HornpipeThe Caucus RaceHow Do You Do and Shake HandsThe Walrus and the CarpenterOld Father WilliamSmoke the Blighter OutAll in the Golden AfternoonAEIOU‘Twas BrillingThe Unbirthday SongVery Good AdvicePainting the Roses RedDodgsonlandOcean of TearsSimon SaysWhooooo Are Youuuuu?

Alice's Wonderland Bakery: Theme SongThe Baking Song
Deleted: Beyond the Laughing SkyBeautiful SoupBeware the JabberwockI'm OddThe Lobster QuadrilleGavotte of the CardsEntrance of the ExecutionerWhen the Wind is in the EastSo They SayEverything Has a UsenessDream CaravanSpeak Roughly to Your Little BoyIf You'll Believe in MeIt's Crazy to Be Sane

Deleted Concepts and Characters
JabberwockyAnthropomorphic "Drink Me" BottleThe Gryphon and the Mock TurtleThe Lion and the UnicornThe Executioner1933 film1939 film
See Also
Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland
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