Jogelours

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A wandering medieval performer who sang, recited poems and played music for audiences at courts and fairs
2. An itinerant entertainer of the Middle Ages who earned a living through songs, storytelling and tricks
3. A travelling minstrel of medieval times, often a poet or musician who performed for payment in villages and castles

Etymology: The Middle English "jogelour" comes from Anglo-Norman "jogleor," which descends from Latin "joculator," a jester or joker, from "joculari," to jest. Its earliest meaning was broad: a performer of songs, tricks, and jokes who went from place to place for an audience. The form ending in "-s" is the plural, and the singular is "jogelour." The same Latin root produced a more familiar English word. "Juggler" comes from the same Anglo-French source, so the two are doublets, relatives that entered English by different routes. "Juggler" narrowed to someone who performs sleight of hand and tricks with objects, while "jogelour" dropped out of use.

Synonyms: juggler, minstrel, jongleur, entertainer