Wiktionary:Word of the day/2022/January 12

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minstrel n (also attributively)

(historical) Originally, an entertainer employed to juggle, play music, sing, tell stories, etc.; a buffoon, a fool, a jester; later, a medieval (especially travelling) entertainer who would recite and sing poetry, often to their own musical accompaniment. (by extension) (chiefly poetic) Any lyric poet, musician, or singer. (US, historical) One of a troupe of entertainers, often a white person who wore black makeup (blackface), to present a so-called minstrel show, being a variety show of banjo music, dance, and song (now regarded as racist). (by extension, slang) An amphetamine tablet, typically black, or black and white, in colour. minstrel v (also figuratively) (transitive) To play (a tune on a musical instrument); to sing (a song). (intransitive) To act as a minstrel; to entertain by playing a musical instrument, singing, etc.

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