The day before the beginning of Lent, when pancakes are traditionally eaten, originally to use up milk and eggs that would otherwise spoil because of not being eaten during Lent
Shrove Tuesday is the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. People traditionally eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. = Pancake Day. The day before Ash Wednesday. the day before the first day of the Christian period of Lent, when people in Britain traditionally eat pancake s (Shrove from shrive (of a Christian priest) (11-21 centuries), from scrifan; SHRIFT)
[ 'shrIv, esp Southern 's ] (verb.) before 12th century. Middle English, from Old English scrIfan to shrive, prescribe , from Latin scribere to write; more at SCRIBE.