minstrel
minstrel XIII. ME. men(e)stral, min(i)stral, -el, — OF. menestral, -(e)rel, mini-, entertainer, handicraftsman, servant — Pr. menest(ai)ral officer, employed person, musician — late L. ministeriālis official, officer, f. ministerium MINISTRY; see -AL1.
So ministrelsy art of a minstrel; body of minstrels XIV; minstrel poetry XIX (Scott). — OF. menestralsie.
minstrel
min·strel / ˈminstrəl/ • n. a medieval singer or musician, esp. one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility. ∎ a member of a band of entertainers with blackened faces who perform songs and music ostensibly of black American origin.
minstrel
minstrel a medieval singer or musician, especially one who sang or recited lyric or heroic poetry to a musical accompaniment for the nobility. Recorded from Middle English, the word comes from Old French menestral ‘entertainer, servant’, via Provençal for late Latin ministerialis ‘servant’.