float
n. countablen. a large, decorated vehicle that moves slowly in a parade. People often build them to look like something special, like a castle or a giant animal.
n. a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle or towed behind one, which is a feature in a procession or parade.
Every company builds a float for the parade.
The school's art club spent weeks designing their prize-winning float for the town's holiday parade.
The centerpiece of the carnival was an elaborate, illuminated float depicting a mythical sea creature, its articulated parts moving as if it were swimming through the crowded streets.
From Middle English floten, from Old English flotian (“to float”), from Proto-West Germanic flotōn, from Proto-Germanic flutōną (“to float”), from Proto-Indo-European plewd-, plew- (“to float, swim, fly”). Compare flow, fleet.
From Middle English flote, from Old English flota (“sailor, boat”), from Proto-West Germanic flotō, from Proto-Germanic flutô, from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-.