Meaning

noun a festival marked by merrymaking and processions

noun a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment

noun a traveling show; having sideshows and rides and games of skill etc.

originFrom Middle French carnaval, from Italian carnevale, possibly from the Latin phrase carnem levāmen (“meat dismissal”). Other scholars suggest Latin carnuālia (“meat-based country feast”) or carrus nāvālis (“boat wagon; float”) instead. Doublet of carnaval.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0