E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Carnival.
The season immediately preceding Lent; shrove-tide. Ducange gives the word carne-levale. (Modern Italian, carnovále; Spanish and French, carnaval.)
1
Italis, carnevale, carnovale, carnaval. Quidam scriptores Itali “carne-vale” dictum putant, quasi carne vale (good-bye meat); sed id etymon non probat Octav. Ferrarius. Cangius … . appellasse Gallos existimat, carn-a-val, quod sonat caro abscedit … [We are referred to a charter, dated 1195, in which occurs the word carne-levamen, and a quotation is given in which occurs the phrase in carnis levamen].—Ducange, vol. ii. p. 222.
