Etymology

merry-go-round

mer·ry-go-round

Today it means: Synonym of carousel (“a pleasure ride, typically found at amusement parks and fairs and accompanied by music, consisting of a slowly revolving circular platform on which are fixed various seats, frequently shaped like horses or other animals, cars, etc., which may also move up and down”). Full definition →

First used mid 18th c.English go round ← Middle English mery
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The story

  1. Middle Englishmery
  2. Englishmerry
  3. Englishgo
  4. Englishround
  5. Englishgo round
  6. English todaymerry-go-round

From merry (adjective) + go round (verb).

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid 18th c. Synonym of carousel (“a pleasure ride, typically found at amusement parks and fairs and accompanied by music, consisting of a slowly revolving circular platform on which are fixed various seats, frequently shaped like horses or other animals, cars, etc., which may also move up and down”).
  • from mid 18th c. A freight train of hopper wagons which loads and unloads its cargo while moving continuously on a circular track, often incorporating a balloon loop.
  • from mid 18th c. A piece of playground equipment consisting of a circular platform that is made to revolve by pushing while users stand on it.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.