[ Mark Chester wrote in 040228 MMDigest:

> Carousel (also spelled carrousel, carrouselle, and possibly a dozen
> other combinations) is from a French word which is derived from an
> Italian word.

Is it connected with carousal, i.e., having a riotous time?

David Evans
Hampshire UK

 [ Indeed!  Sez my 7 kg dictionary of 1927:
 [
 [   carousal: 1. A jovial feast or festival; a drunken revel;
 [    a carouse.  2. Erroneous for carrousel(1.)
 [
 [   carrousel: Also carousel, erroneously carousal. (French, from
 [    Italian carosello.)
 [    1. A sort of tournament in which knights or cavalrymen divided
 [    into troops execute various evolutions, to which were often
 [    formerly added allegorical dances, scenic shows, or the like.
 [    2. A merry-go-round.
 [
 [ Do cavalrymen and knights drink and carouse?  ;->
 [
 [ -- Robbie