The first reference to a merry-go-round is from a Byzantine bas-relief, showing people riding in baskets around a central maypole. The name, carousel, derives from an Arabic and Spanish word meaning “little war” and referring to a courtly game where knights would ride horses, trying to grab clay balls or gold rings. This tradition continues today, with some modern merry-go-rounds featuring rings that can be grabbed and tossed at obstacles for prizes.
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