CARNIVAL

I. noun Etymology: Italian carnevale, alteration of earlier carnelevare, literally, removal of meat, from carne flesh (from Latin carn-, caro) + levare to remove, from Latin, to raise Date: 1549 a season or festival of merrymaking before Lent, 2. an instance of merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, an instance of riotous excess , 3. a traveling enterprise offering amusements, an organized program of entertainment or exhibition ; festival , II. adjective Date: 1605 suggestive of or suited to a ~