Webster's English Dictionary

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minstrel

min.strel \'min(t)-str*l\ n [ME menestrel, fr. OF, official, servant, 
   minstrel, fr. LL ministerial]is imperial household officer, fr. L 
   ministerium service, fr. minister servant - more at MINISTER 1: one of a 
   class of medieval musical entertainers; esp : a singer  of verses to the 
   accompaniment of a harp 2a: MUSICIAN  2b: POET  3a: one of a troupe of 
   performers typically giving a program of Negro melod ies, jokes, and 
   impersonations and usu. blacked in imitation of Negroes 3b: a performance 
   by a troupe of minstrels