Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Carnival
Car′ni-val
(kär′nĭ-val)
, Noun.
[It.
carnevale
, prob. for older carnelevale
, prop., the putting away of meat; fr. L. caro
, carnis
, flesh + levare
to take away, lift up, fr. levis
light.] 1.
A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Catholic countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples, during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove Tuesday.
The
carnival
at Venice is everywhere talked of. Addison.
2.
Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess.
Tennyson.
He saw the lean dogs beneath the wall
Hold o’er the dead their
Hold o’er the dead their
carnival
Byron.