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Minstrel

 - 4 dictionary results

min⋅strel

  [min-struhl]
Use Minstrel in a Sentence
–noun
1. a medieval poet and musician who sang or recited while accompanying himself on a stringed instrument, either as a member of a noble household or as an itinerant troubadour.
2. a musician, singer, or poet.
3. one of a troupe of comedians, usually white men made up as black performers, presenting songs, jokes, etc.
Origin:
1175–1225; ME ministrel < OF < LL ministeriālis servant (n. use of adj.); see ministerial
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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min·strel   (mĭn'strəl)   
n.  

  1. A medieval entertainer who traveled from place to place, especially to sing and recite poetry.

    1. A lyric poet.

    2. A musician.

  3. A performer in a minstrel show.


[Middle English minstral, from Old French menestrel, servant, entertainer, from Late Latin ministeriālis, official in the imperial household, from Latin ministerium, ministry; see ministry.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

minstrel 
c.1225, from O.Fr. menestral "entertainer, servant," from M.L. ministralis "servant, jester, singer," from L.L. ministerialem (nom. ministerialis) "imperial household officer, one having an official duty," from ministerialis (adj.) "ministerial," from L. ministerium (see ministry). The connecting notion is via the jester, etc., as a court position. Specific sense of "musician" developed in O.Fr., but in Eng. until 16c. the word was used of anyone (singers, storytellers, jugglers, buffoons) whose profession was to entertain patrons. Only in 18c. was the word limited, in a historical sense, to "medieval singer of heroic or lyric poetry who accompanied himself on a stringed instrument." Ref. to blackface music acts in U.S. is from 1843. Minstrelsy is 13c. Anglo-Fr. menestralsie, from O.Fr. menestrel.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Minstrel

(Matt. 9:23), a flute-player. Such music was a usual accompaniment of funerals. In 2 Kings 3:15 it denotes a player on a stringed instrument.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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