Minstrel
noun
A performer in the past who travelled around, playing music, singing songs, and telling stories.
In medieval times, minstrels travelled from castle to castle, entertaining lords and ladies.
Often appears as...
- medieval minstrel
- travelling minstrel
Usage tips
Historical
noun
A member of a type of performance troop in the U.S. in the 19th century, often in blackface.
The minstrel show was a popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America, although it is now seen as racist.
Often appears as...
- minstrel show
- minstrel troupe
Usage tips
Disapproving
Historical, Cultural
noun
A performer in the past who travelled around, playing music, singing songs, and telling stories.
In medieval times, minstrels travelled from castle to castle, entertaining lords and ladies.
Often appears as...
- medieval minstrel
- travelling minstrel
Usage tips
Historical
noun
A member of a type of performance troop in the U.S. in the 19th century, often in blackface.
The minstrel show was a popular form of entertainment in 19th-century America, although it is now seen as racist.
Often appears as...
- minstrel show
- minstrel troupe
Usage tips
Disapproving
Historical, Cultural
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Olden Times
Used to talk about historical entertainers, not modern ones.
He dressed as a minstrel for the Renaissance fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Music
Minstrels were versatile performers who also told stories and poems.
The minstrel captivated the audience with a heroic ballad.
Pro Tip 3/3Medieval Roles
In history, minstrels served not just to entertain but also to spread news.
Minstrels often shared tales of distant lands and battles.
Pro Tip 1/3Olden Times
Used to talk about historical entertainers, not modern ones.
He dressed as a minstrel for the Renaissance fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Music
Minstrels were versatile performers who also told stories and poems.
The minstrel captivated the audience with a heroic ballad.
Pro Tip 3/3Medieval Roles
In history, minstrels served not just to entertain but also to spread news.
Minstrels often shared tales of distant lands and battles.
Pro Tip 1/3Olden Times
Used to talk about historical entertainers, not modern ones.
He dressed as a minstrel for the Renaissance fair.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Just Music
Minstrels were versatile performers who also told stories and poems.
The minstrel captivated the audience with a heroic ballad.
Pro Tip 3/3Medieval Roles
In history, minstrels served not just to entertain but also to spread news.
Minstrels often shared tales of distant lands and battles.
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Video examples
Can democracy exist...
mistrust and by the way mistress was always very important for democracy this is why you have check and balances this is why basically you have all this creative minstrels between the representatives and those whom they represent but when politics
Video examples
Artificial Female...
is really the perfect model to study the end the human endometrium the uterus and the diseases that are associated with it we were able to actually acquire primary human tissue from women who were having surgeries for different minstrel or
Video examples
Dwan Reece: The origins...
The typical minstrel show was a parody of Black culture, song and dance and speech, interspersed with stump speeches, jokes, musical interludes and theatrical skits. The cast included a roster of recurring characters.
Video examples
Can democracy exist...
mistrust and by the way mistress was always very important for democracy this is why you have check and balances this is why basically you have all this creative minstrels between the representatives and those whom they represent but when politics
Video examples
Artificial Female...
is really the perfect model to study the end the human endometrium the uterus and the diseases that are associated with it we were able to actually acquire primary human tissue from women who were having surgeries for different minstrel or
Video examples
Dwan Reece: The origins...
The typical minstrel show was a parody of Black culture, song and dance and speech, interspersed with stump speeches, jokes, musical interludes and theatrical skits. The cast included a roster of recurring characters.
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Terry Zwigoff
American Director
I collect old Coon Chicken Inn memorabilia. I collect black memorabilia, like old minstrel posters. It was a real place. There was one in Seattle, one in Portland, and one in Salt Lake City. They started in 1925, and then they went out of business around 1958.
Quote examples
John McCormack
Irish Musician
I live again the days and evenings of my long career. I dream at night of operas and concerts in which I have had my share of success. Now like the old Irish minstrel, I have hung up my harp because my songs are all sung.
Quote examples
Denny Laine
English Musician
One of my earliest inspirations was the 'Allan-a-Dale' character played by Elton Hayes in the 1954 movie 'The Story Of Robin Hood And His Merrie Men.' He was a wandering minstrel with his guitar.
Quote examples
Juan Williams
American Journalist
Where are the exhortations for children to reject the self-defeating stereotypes that reduce black people to violent, oversexed 'gangstas,' minstrel show comedians and mindless athletes?
Quote examples
Leon Redbone
American Musician
I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows.
Quote examples
Serj Tankian
American Musician
I'm not comfortable with just entertaining. Although I like entertaining, I also like bringing forward the truth of our times as minstrels used to in the old days.
Quote examples
Amanda Donohoe
English Actress
Your roots, your family, your friends all become so much more important to you as you get older, especially if you are a wandering minstrel like me.
Quote examples
Guru Nanak
Philosopher
By singing the Guru's hymns, I, the minstrel spread the Lord's glory. Nanak, by praising the True Name, I have obtained the perfect Lord.
Quote examples
Leon Russell
American Musician
My whole family's been involved with music, and it's been so since the minstrel days.
Quote examples
Rhiannon Giddens
American Musician
I'll talk about the banjo all day long and the history of minstrel shows.
Quote examples
Terry Zwigoff
American Director
I collect old Coon Chicken Inn memorabilia. I collect black memorabilia, like old minstrel posters. It was a real place. There was one in Seattle, one in Portland, and one in Salt Lake City. They started in 1925, and then they went out of business around 1958.
Quote examples
John McCormack
Irish Musician
I live again the days and evenings of my long career. I dream at night of operas and concerts in which I have had my share of success. Now like the old Irish minstrel, I have hung up my harp because my songs are all sung.
Quote examples
Denny Laine
English Musician
One of my earliest inspirations was the 'Allan-a-Dale' character played by Elton Hayes in the 1954 movie 'The Story Of Robin Hood And His Merrie Men.' He was a wandering minstrel with his guitar.
Quote examples
Juan Williams
American Journalist
Where are the exhortations for children to reject the self-defeating stereotypes that reduce black people to violent, oversexed 'gangstas,' minstrel show comedians and mindless athletes?
Quote examples
Leon Redbone
American Musician
I extract what I consider the best material from different sources. But often the material I perform comes from a very strange location in history, which are minstrel shows.
Quote examples
Serj Tankian
American Musician
I'm not comfortable with just entertaining. Although I like entertaining, I also like bringing forward the truth of our times as minstrels used to in the old days.
Quote examples
Amanda Donohoe
English Actress
Your roots, your family, your friends all become so much more important to you as you get older, especially if you are a wandering minstrel like me.
Quote examples
Guru Nanak
Philosopher
By singing the Guru's hymns, I, the minstrel spread the Lord's glory. Nanak, by praising the True Name, I have obtained the perfect Lord.
Quote examples
Leon Russell
American Musician
My whole family's been involved with music, and it's been so since the minstrel days.
Quote examples
Rhiannon Giddens
American Musician
I'll talk about the banjo all day long and the history of minstrel shows.
Example 1 of 10
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