minstrel
minstrel — noun
- minstrelsingular
- minstrelsplural
1. a performer in medieval times who travelled from town to town, earning a living
a performer in medieval times who travelled from town to town, earning a living by singing songs and reciting poetry in public places or at noble courts
At the castle feast, a minstrel named Hugo sang a ballad about the king's victory in battle.
named [person] + sang a ballad about [topic]
A young minstrel named Beatrice travelled from village to village, playing a small harp and reciting poems.
travelled from [place] to [place], playing [instrument] and reciting [art form]
Villagers gathered around the fire as the wandering minstrel began a story of brave knights and distant lands.
Historians believe that many medieval minstrels also carried messages and news between rival noble families.
Before printed books were common, minstrels helped spread news by turning local events into memorable songs.
- troubadour
a poet-musician from southern France who wrote love songs in the 12th–13th centuries; more specific than minstrel
- bard
a poet from ancient Celtic cultures who composed and recited epic verse; overlaps in the idea of a travelling storyteller
- jongleur
a French medieval entertainer who sang, juggled and performed acrobatics; a broader role than a minstrel
用法筆記
This sense refers only to historical European entertainers of the Middle Ages. Modern street musicians or singers are not called minstrels.
常見錯誤
2. a performer, typically white, who used dark face paint to act out offensive cari
a performer, typically white, who used dark face paint to act out offensive caricatures of Black people in variety shows popular in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries
The museum exhibit explains how minstrel shows spread harmful racial stereotypes across the United States.
exhibit explains how [thing] spread [negative consequence]
A group of white performers darkened their faces with burnt cork and acted in a minstrel show.
In the 1890s, minstrel shows were among the most popular entertainment acts in America.
Modern historians study old minstrel scripts to understand how racial prejudice shaped popular culture.
The documentary examined why minstrel shows remained popular for over a hundred years despite their offensive content.
- blackface performer
more specific and descriptively clear about the practice; less likely to be misunderstood
- caricaturist
someone who creates exaggerated representations; broader and less tied to this specific racial context
用法筆記
This sense is now considered offensive when used without clear historical context. In modern writing, the term is usually employed critically to discuss 19th-century racial stereotypes, not as a neutral description of a performer.