Shrove Tuesday

noun

ˈshrōv- How to pronounce Shrove Tuesday (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrōv-
: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday

Word History

Etymology

Middle English schroftewesday, from schrof- (as in schroftide) + tewesday Tuesday

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Shrove Tuesday was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Shrovetide
Shrove Tuesday
shrub
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrove Tuesday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Shrove%20Tuesday. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Shrove Tuesday

noun
ˈshrōv- How to pronounce Shrove Tuesday (audio)
: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
Etymology

Middle English schroftewesday "Shrove Tuesday," from schrof, from shriven "to shrive, give a penance or pardon to," and tewesday "Tuesday"; shriven, from Old English scrifan "to shrive, prescribe," from Latin scribere "to write" — related to scribe, tuesday see Word History at tuesday

More from Merriam-Webster on Shrove Tuesday

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Shrove Tuesday

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