troubadour

[ troo-buh-dawr, -dohr, -doo r ]

/ ˈtru bəˌdɔr, -ˌdoʊr, -ˌdʊər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR troubadour ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.Compare trouvère.

any wandering singer or minstrel.

Nearby words

trotter, trotting race, trotty, trotyl, trou-de-loup, troubadour, troubadours, troubetzkoy, trouble, trouble man, trouble one's head with

Origin of troubadour

1720–30; < French < Provençal trobador, equivalent to trob(ar) to find, compose (see trover) + -ador < Latin -ātor -ator

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for troubadour

Llewyn Davis is a troubadour and vagabond, one who happens to be in grief.
‘Inside Llewyn Davis’ Star Oscar Isaac Is About to Be a Very Big Deal|Kevin Fallon|December 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The band is now touring Britain, after playing at the Troubadour in London and releasing their second CD.
‘Downton Abbey’ Star Elizabeth McGovern on Season 3, ‘Cheerful Weather for the Wedding,’ and More|Lorenza Muñoz|December 31, 2012|DAILY BEAST
On these expeditions Abdullah generally accompanied us, and rendered valuable service as interpreter and troubadour.
Russia|Donald Mackenzie Wallace
She was closely guarded, and evidently ran no risk of smirching her good name by associating with a troubadour student.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13|Elbert Hubbard

He acted as if a troubadour had still a definite social office, like a bishop.
The Wisdom of Father Brown|G. K. Chesterton
As the first stars came out the troubadour rode back to his haven.
Sixes and Sevens|O. Henry
So must a troubadour of old have felt when set adrift in an alien and hostile land.
Local Color|Irvin S. Cobb

British Dictionary definitions for troubadour

troubadour

/ (ˈtruːbəˌdʊə) /

noun

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

a singer

Word Origin for troubadour

C18: from French, from Old Provençal trobador, from trobar to write verses, perhaps ultimately from Latin tropus trope

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

troubadour

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of troubadour

Examples from the Web for troubadour

British Dictionary definitions for troubadour

troubadour

noun

Word Origin for troubadour