mardi gras

== English == === Proper noun === mardi gras Alternative letter-case form of Mardi Gras. == French == === Etymology === Literally, “fat Tuesday”. === Pronunciation === (France) IPA(key): /maʁ.di ɡʁa/ ~ /maʁ.di ɡʁɑ/ (Quebec) IPA(key): /mɔʁd͡zi ɡʁɔ/, /mɑʁd͡zi ɡʁɑ/ === Noun === mardi gras m (countable and uncountable, invariable) (usually uncountable) Shrove Tuesday: the day when traditionally all fat and meat in the house were finished up, before Christians were banned from eating them during Lent, which commenced the following day on mercredi des Cendres (usually uncountable) Mardi Gras: the last day of a carnival, traditionally the celebration immediately before the start of Lent when joy could be out of place for Christians 1582 Lambert Daneau, Traité contre les Bacchanales ou Mardi-gras, title listed in Jean Baptiste Louis Osmont, Dictionnaire typographique, historique et critique des livres rares ... et recherchés: Tome 1-2, Chez Lacombe, libraire, Quai de Conti (1768), p. 221. (countable) a person dressed up in a ridiculous disguise