Origin: 1250–1300; Middle English carole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study (see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) < Anglo-French carole,Old French *corole (compare Old Provençal corola), apparently < Latin corolla garland (see corolla), conflated with Latin choraula < Greek choraúlēs piper for choral dance, equivalent to chor(ós) chorus + -aulēs, derivative of aulós pipe
Related forms
car·ol·er; especially British, car·ol·ler, noun
out·car·ol, verb (used with object), -oled, -ol·ing or (especially British) -olled, -ol·ling.
c.1300, from O.Fr. carole "kind of dance," from M.L. choraula "a dance to the flute," from L. choraules, from Gk. khoraules "flute player who accompanies the choral dance," from khoros "chorus" + aulein "to play the flute," from aulos "reed instrument." The meaning of "Christmas hymn" is c.1500.