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Carnival in Venice (photo by Stefan Insam) |
CARNIVAL
Noun & adjective. Mid-16th century.
[Italian carne-, carnovale (whence French carnaval) from medieval Latin carnelevamen, -varium Shrovetide,
from Latin caro, carn- flesh + levare put away.]
A1 noun. In Roman Catholic countries, the week (originally the day) before Lent, devoted to festivities;
Shrovetide; the festivity of this season. M16
A2 noun. Any period or occasion of riotous revelry or feasting;
a festival (especially at a regular date) usually involving a procession. L16
A3 noun. A travelling funfair; a circus. N.American. M20
B attributive or as adjective. Of or pertaining to a carnival; resembling or characteristic of a carnival. E17
Also:
carnivalesque adjective characteristic or of the style of a carnival M18
carnivalite noun a reveller at a carnival L19
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A funfair or, if you're American, a carnival (photo by Nick Holland) |
Are you a carnivalite?
Do you too immediately search out the spit-roast, burger van, hot-dog stand and goat pit?
Do please roll up, roll up and get your comments right here.
Our town carnival was always held in August, so I have fond memories of standing peering through my crystallising breath at the poor little drum majorettes shivering along in their transparent raincoats, and of waving kindly at lorries covered in soggy paper palm trees and over-mature maidens.
ReplyDeleteHappy days.