Dahl dictionary

Roald Dahl often makes up his own words. But do other people know what he is talking about? You are going to make up meanings for at least 6 of these words for a special 'Dahl dictionary'.

Which words need meanings?

Below are 6 words from The Enormous Crocodile that you won't find in a normal dictionary.

• duper
• hoggish
• gollop
• mushious
• grumptious
• squizzled
  

Read through the book, or take a close look at a double page with a friend. You will find these Dahl words, and others he has made up too. Talk with others about what they might mean.

What next?

Select 6 new Dahl words (don't use the ones above).

• Look at how these Dahl words are used in The Enormous Crocodile and work out what they mean.
• Look at a dictionary to see how words and their meanings are shown.
• Make your own Dahl dictionary page. Your class might like to put all the pages together to make a class dictionary.

Online activity

You can write your word meanings here if you wish. Click here to go to a dictionary page. Write your word meanings and then print the page.
 

© 2002 Department of Education, Tasmania.

Words from 'The Enormous Crocodile' by Roald Dahl used with permission.
© Roald Dahl
Publishers Jonothan Cape Limited and Penguin Books Limited.