troubadour

American  

[troo-buh-dawr, -dohr, -door] / ˈtru bəˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr, -ˌdʊər /

noun

1. one of a class of medieval lyric poets who flourished principally in southern France from the 11th to 13th centuries, and wrote songs and poems of a complex metrical form in langue d'oc, chiefly on themes of courtly love.

2. any wandering singer or minstrel.

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troubadour British  

/ ˈtruːbəˌdʊə /

noun

1. any of a class of lyric poets who flourished principally in Provence and N Italy from the 11th to the 13th centuries, writing chiefly on courtly love in complex metric form

2. a singer

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Etymology

Origin of troubadour

First recorded in 1720–30; from French, from Provençal trobador, equivalent to trob(ar) “to find, compose” ( trover ) + -ador (from Latin -ātor -ator

Example Sentences

The Texas troubadour is celebrating not what’s withered and worn but authentic and real.

From The Wall Street Journal

Over the past year, the shaggy-haired guitarist and singer has emerged as a modern-day protest troubadour, collaborating with Baez, selling out concert halls, and soaring to rarified fame on social media.

From Barron's

“My folks had Stanford in mind for me, not an itinerant troubadour. But they could also clearly see that I was following my bliss.”

From Los Angeles Times

Then again, the only artist of color nominated for either prize is Charley Crockett, the Texas-born troubadour whose “Dollar a Day” is up for traditional country album.

From Los Angeles Times

Thirty years after his breakout as a Sundance darling with “The Brothers McMullen,” Edward Burns may have faded from view as an indie troubadour of middle-class mores, family fractures and romantic entanglements.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crooner
• minstrel
• songwriter