Origin: 1250–1300;Middle Englishcarole ring, circle (of stones), enclosed place for study (see carrel), ringdance with song (hence, song) < Anglo-Frenchcarole,Old French*corole (compare Old Provençalcorola), apparently < Latincorolla garland (see corolla), conflated with Latinchoraula < Greekchoraúlēs 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), out·car·oled, out·car·ol·ing or (especially British) out·car·olled, out·car·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.