carol

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a joyful song, especially a traditional religious song sung at Christmas

   The choir opened the service with a familiar carol.

2. 2
   verb

   to sing joyfully or to sing carols

   Birds began to carol from the branches at dawn.

From Middle English carole and Old French carole, a round dance accompanied by singing. The word shifted from the dance and its song to a joyful religious song, especially one associated with Christmas, and also became a verb for singing gladly.

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