minstrel

[min-struhl]

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 in blackface, presenting songs, jokes, etc., and portraying negative racial stereotypes.

minstrel

/ ˈmɪnstrəl /

noun

1. a medieval wandering musician who performed songs or recited poetry with instrumental accompaniment

2. a performer in a minstrel show

3. archaic,  any poet, musician, or singer

Word History and Origins

Origin of minstrel¹

1175–1225; Middle English ministrel < Old French < Late Latin ministeriālis servant (noun use of adj.); ministerial

Word History and Origins

Origin of minstrel¹

C13: from Old French menestral, from Late Latin ministeriālis an official, from Latin _minister

Example Sentences

The screams wouldn’t have reached the Hollywood Hills, where Bill Whitten wound down after a typical Sunday cooking Southern-style collard greens and cornbread in his eclectic home filled with African and Black American minstrel art.

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My vision of Queens, when it’s perfect, is: There’s a hill with the sun behind it, and this crippled army of minstrels comes over the horizon.

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Anthony, he continues, "is the worst kind of shallow, fashion-grubbing gay minstrel."

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The new critique of politicians of color like Donalds, Scott and Robinson should be, Smith argued, "are these people performing like minstrels?"

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NM: It’s such a complicated dance, to try to dismiss them as minstrels while also understanding the quality of their work.

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Related Words

• troubadour