River shown in diagrams disrupted carnival

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (alternative form of Mardi Gras English)

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
Mardi Gras was a 1958 musical comedy film starring Pat Boone and Christine Carère .

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Mardi gras \Mar"di` gras"\, n. [F., literally, fat Tuesday.] The last day of Carnival; the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent and fasting); Shrove Tuesday; -- in some cities a great day of carnival and merrymaking; in the United States ...

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1690s, from French, literally "fat Tuesday," from mardi "Tuesday" (12c., from Latin Martis diem "day of the planet Mars;" see Tuesday ) + gras "fat," from Latin crassus , "thick." Day of eating and merrymaking before the fasting season of Lent.