mardi gras Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the last day before Lent
    pancake day; Shrove Tuesday.
  2. noun a carnival held in some countries on Shrove Tuesday (the last day before Lent) but especially in New Orleans
    Fat Tuesday.

WordNet


Mar"di` gras" noun
Etymology
F., literally, fat Tuesday.
Definitions
  1. The last day of Carnival; Shrove Tuesday; -- in some cities a great day of carnival and merrymaking.

Webster 1913