\Car"ni*val\, n. [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
   Gatholic 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 carnival                   --Byron.