bandersnatch

American  

[ban-der-snach] / ˈbæn dərˌsnætʃ /

noun

1. an imaginary wild animal of fierce disposition.

2. a person of uncouth or unconventional habits, attitudes, etc., especially one considered a menace, nuisance, or the like.

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Etymology

Origin of bandersnatch

Coined by Lewis Carroll in Through the Looking Glass (1871)

Explanation

A bandersnatch is an imaginary, strange, and fearsome creature. The noun bandersnatch is also used as a descriptive way to refer to a person who seems wild and threatening. Bandersnatch comes from the poem "Jabberwocky," by Lewis Carroll. The poem is full of words that Carroll invented. The part with bandersnatch reads like this:

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

Bandersnatch is now sometimes used to refer to any imaginary, fierce creature, or to any person who should be avoided — like the really grouchy neighbor who complains about everything and everyone.

Example Sentences

Regardless of location, brokers say homes priced below $1 million are seeing the highest levels of competition as buyers watch their budgets because of interest rates.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 8, 2023