The Language of Carnival

BALL (ball masque, tableau ball) - a themed masked ball, where the
krewe royalty is presented to the club members

BOEUF (French word) - this is a large bull or ox, which represents
the ancient symbol of the last meal before the Lenten season of
fasting

CAPTAIN - this is the leader of each Carnival organization

CARNIVAL (from Latin carnivale) - translated to be farewell to the
flesh (the feast of Epiphany) to midnight on Fat Tuesday (the day
before Lent)

COURT - this is the Mardi Gras King, Queen, maids and dukes of a
Carnival organization

DEN - this is the location where the floats are built and stored

DOUBLOONS - aluminum objects resembling coins, which bear the
insignia of the krewe on one side and the theme on the other; Rex
krewe introduced the first one in 1960

FAVOR - these are souvenirs, given to friends or guests attending
the krewe's ball by the members

FLAMBEAUX (plural) - Naphtha-fueled torches, which used to be the
only source of light along the parade routes; now, they are carried
along as part of the parade

INVITATION - this term refers to the printed request for attendance
to a Carnival ball

KING CAKE - this is an oval pastry with a small plastic doll inside;
the individual who finds the doll buys the next king cake

KREWE - this is a term with Old English flavor, first used by the
Krewe of Comus in 1857 to name a Carnival organization

LUNDI GRAS (French for Fat Monday) - this is the day before Fat
Tuesday; the day is celebrated with Rex and Zulu.

MARDI GRAS - this is the day before the beginning of Lent called Fat
Tuesday

THROWS - the items thrown from floats by the krewe members; these
can be beads, plastic cups, doubloons, and toys