English Dictionary
Definition of “minstrel”
minstrel (ˈmɪnstrəl
)
Definitions
noun
- a medieval wandering musician who performed songs or recited poetry with instrumental accompaniment
- a performer in a minstrel show
- archaic or poetic any poet, musician, or singer
Word Origin
C13: from Old French menestral, from Late Latin ministeriālis an official, from Latin minister
Usage examples
Also, I noted that our queen had chosen to announce her rather than giving this task to the minstrel.
Robin Hobb, THE GOLDEN FOOL: Book Two of the Tawny Man (2002)Brimming with enthusiasm the mini minstrel obviously hasn't given much thought to getting audiences for these brief encounters.
Megastar (2004)Or watching a rave American TV show and discovering a minstrel cartoon character spouting "yes, massa" lines.
Globe and Mail (2003)Except that they are truly medieval, a revival of the wandering minstrel , the strolling player, the itinerant friar, the migratory scholar.
Times, Sunday Times (2004)Like Gilbert and Sullivan's wandering minstrel , it is `a thing of shreds and patches '.
Richard Fortey, THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
