Car″ol (?), n. [OF. carole a kind of dance wherein many dance together, fr. caroler to dance; perh. from Celtic; cf. Armor. koroll, n., korolla, korolli, v., Ir. car music, turn, circular motion, also L. choraula a flute player, charus a dance, chorus, choir.] 1. A round dance. Chaucer.
2. A song of joy, exultation, or mirth; a lay.
The costly feast, the carol, and the dance.
Dryden
It was the carol of a bird.
Byron.
3. A song of praise of devotion; as, a Christmas or Easter carol.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy.
Tennyson.
In the darkness sing your carol of high praise.
Keble.
4. Joyful music, as of a song.
I heard the bells on Christmans Day
Their old, familiar carol play.
Longfellow.