minstrel

• n.歌手、エンターテイナー、吟遊詩人

ラテン語のminister（大臣）、servant（召使い）、侍従、古フランス語のjester（道化師）、courtier（廷臣）が語源で、後に歌手、音楽家、吟遊詩人などを指すようになった。

minstrel

minstrel: [13] Originally minstrel, like its close relative minister, denoted a ‘servant’. Its musical associations are a comparatively recent development. It goes back ultimately to late Latin ministeriālis ‘official’, a derivative of Latin ministerium (source of English ministry). Old French took it over as menestral, and it was here that a gradual specialization in meaning took place, from ‘servant’ via ‘entertainer’ to ‘singer’.
=> minister

minstrel (n.)

early 13c., from Old French menestrel "entertainer, poet, musician; servant, workman; good-for-nothing, rogue," from Medieval Latin ministralis "servant, jester, singer," from Late Latin ministerialem (nominative ministerialis) "imperial household officer, one having an official duty," from ministerialis (adj.) "ministerial," from Latin ministerium (see ministry). The connecting notion is via the jester, etc., as a court position.

Specific sense of "musician" developed in Old French, but in English until 16c. the word was used of anyone (singers, storytellers, jugglers, buffoons) whose profession was to entertain patrons. Only in 18c. was the word limited, in a historical sense, to "medieval singer of heroic or lyric poetry who accompanied himself on a stringed instrument." Reference to blackface music acts in U.S. is from 1843.

1. The Negro minstrel is touring the country.

その黒人歌舞団は全国を回っている。

2.A strong love has sprung up between the minstrel and the king.

すると吟遊詩人と国王の間に深い感情が生まれた。

3.The young minstrel had a rare,rich voice.

この青年歌手には珍しい高らかな声がある。

4.The first of all the negro minstrel shows came to town,and made a sensation.

一流の黒人演奏隊がこの町を訪れ、センセーションを巻き起こした。

5.The minstrel had been to many places before he came here.

ここに来る前に、この吟遊詩人は多くの場所に行ったことがある。