Merry-Go-Round
/ˈmɛri ɡoʊ ˌraʊnd/noun
A rotating amusement ride with seats or animals for riders.
Did you know?The phrase is a 19th-century English name for a rotating ride; despite its magical vibe, its power is purely linguistic—the “merry” part reflects cheer, not an older occult root.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
merrig
“cheerful, glad”
Old English
OE
gān
“to go, walk, move”
Old English
OE
rūndan
“to turn, revolve (later forms influence the modern idea of roundness)”
19th Century
English
merry-go-round
“a rotating amusement ride”
Modern English
English
merry-go-round
“a carousel or rotating fairground ride”