minstrel🔊

(historical) Originally, an entertainer employed to juggle, play music, sing, tell stories, etc.; a buffoon, a fool, a jester; later, a medieval (especially traveling) entertainer who would recite and sing poetry, often to their own musical accompaniment. +

(by extension, poetic) Any lyric poet, musician, or singer.

(by extension, US, historical) One of a troupe of entertainers, often a white person who wore black makeup (blackface), to present a variety show of banjo music, dance, and song (now sometimes regarded as racist).

(by extension, slang) An amphetamine tablet, typically black, or black and white, in color.

To play (a tune on a musical instrument); to sing (a song).

To entertain by playing a musical instrument, singing, etc.