minstrel

/'minstrəl/

Thân thiện

A minstrel plays a lute and sings a ballad in the castle hall.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • A performer in a minstrel show: A person, typically a white performer in 19th and early 20th-century America, who wore blackface makeup and performed songs, dances, and comic routines in a style that caricatured African Americans.
   • A singer of folk songs: A musician, poet, or singer, especially one from the medieval period, who traveled to entertain people with songs and stories.

2. Verb:

   • To celebrate by singing, in the style of minstrels: To perform or entertain with music and song, often in a traditional or itinerant manner.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The traveling minstrel entertained the villagers with ballads of ancient heroes.
  • Al Jolson was one of the most famous minstrels in American theater history.
• Verb:
  • The poets would minstrel the king's victories in epic verse.

Advanced Usage

• "To play the minstrel": To assume the role of an entertainer or storyteller.
  • At the festival, he loved to play the minstrel, gathering children with his tales.

Variants and Related Words

• Minstrelsy (n): The art or practice of a minstrel; a troupe of minstrels; also refers to the genre of minstrel shows.
  • The tradition of minstrelsy has a complex and controversial history.

Synonyms

• Noun (medieval singer): Bard, troubadour, jongleur, poet-musician.
• Noun (minstrel show performer): Blackface performer, entertainer.
• Verb: Sing, chant, recite, celebrate in song.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(This word is not commonly used with phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "Wear the minstrel's cap": To take on the duty of providing entertainment or lighthearted diversion.
  • It's your turn to wear the minstrel's cap and lighten the mood at the meeting.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a performer in a minstrel show
2. a singer of folk songs

Verb

1. celebrate by singing, in the style of minstrels

Từ đồng nghĩa

• folk singer
• jongleur
• poet-singer
• troubadour