float, n.

[victor steinbok]

The OED definition of a festival/parade float is OK, but it only has two
quotations:

14. b. A platform on wheels, having a spectacular display arranged upon it,
> used in a procession.
>
> 1888    Boston (Mass.) Jrnl. 13 Sept. 2/4   A parade two miles long was
> composed of gay floats of all sorts of food-supplies.
> 1889    Pall Mall Gaz. 3 Oct. 6/3   A series of Floats representative of
> the Seven Centuries of the Mayoralty of London.
>

For one, it can be easily antedated. But there is no shortage of more recent
citations with "floats" of all kinds in American parades or processions.


http://goo.gl/ZHdBC
Grand Opening of the Northern Pacific Railway. Celebration at St. Paul,
Minnesota. The Eastern Terminus. September 3, 1883
p. 33

> But the leading feature of the day was the exhibit made by the Chicago, St.
> Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad Company, "the Royal Route." The passenger
> department of this route was represented by a large float drawn by six
> Norman gray horses, furnished by the C. N. Nelson Lumber Company. On the
> sides of the float were banners stating: "No change of cars East to
> Chicago, South to Des Moines, or Southwest to Omaha and Kansas City." The
> banners on the top of the float announced that, "The Royal Route is the only
> route running dining cars and smoking room sleepers on all trains between
> St. Paul and Chicago." and surmounting these banners was a large map.
> showing the line of the N. P. R. R. from Portland to St. Paul in connection
> with the Royal Route.
>

http://goo.gl/9OWkN
Young Ireland: A Fragment of Irish History, 1840-1850. Volume 1. By Sir
Charles Gavan Duffy. 1880
p. 345

> Wagons, capacious "floats *" *brought from the city, and the country carts
> used in agriculture, were all employed and were all found barely sufficient
> to accommodate the people.
>

http://goo.gl/vTU6W
The American Stationer. Volume 12 (16). October 19, 1882
Philadelphia's Bi-Centennial. (From our regular correspondent.) p. 580/1

> In the evening there will be a series of tableaux exhibited on thirty-seven
> floats, illustrating historical scenes, impersonations of the most
> illustrious women of the world. Some will illustrate a Persian epic poem,
> which is appropriate to the celebration.
>


http://goo.gl/Ce9wL
Crescent City Illustrated. Edited and compiled by Edwin L. Jewell. New
Orleans: 1873
Grand State Pageant. p. [unnumbered]

> The pageant will be divided in Five Grand Dvisions [sic], which will form
> as follows:
> THE FIRST DIVISION— Will comprise all foot maskers, (in ranks of four), and
> will form on the South side of Canal street, their right resting on St.
> Charles street, extending toward the swamp.
> THE SECOND DIVISION— Comprising all maskers in open or private carriages,
> will form on St. Charles street, the right resting on Canal street.
> THE THIRD DIVISION— Comprising all maskers in vans, floats, milk-carts and
> other public vehicles, will form on Camp street, their right resting upon
> Canal street.
> THE FOURTH DIVISION— Comprising all masked horsemen (in sections of four),
> will form on the south side of Canal street, their right resting upon Camp
> street, and rear extending toward the river.
> THE FIFTH DIVISION— Comprising all stragglers, late comers and subjects not
> elsewhere provided for, will form on the North side of Canal street, their
> right resting upon Chartres street, and rear extending toward the river.
>

John James Audubon. p. [unnubered]

> This magnificent pageant was composed of seventeen immense *cars* or *
> floats*, fifteen of which bore groups of from five to figures.
>


VS-)

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