ETYM Old Eng. minstrel, menestral, Old Fren. menestrel, from Late Lat. ministerialis servant, workman (cf. ministrellus harpist), from Latin ministerium service. Related to Ministry, Ministerial.
A performer in a minstrel show.
Professional entertainer of any kind, but particularly a musician, in the 12th–17th centuries. Most common in the Middle Ages, minstrels were usually in the service of a court or of a member of the aristocracy. In the 19th century, a minstrel was one of a group of white entertainers popular in the US who painted their faces black and impersonated the music and humor of workers from the Southern plantations. + prikaži više