One of a troupe of entertainers who wore black makeup (blackface) to present a variety show of song, dance and banjo music; now considered racist
{i} wandering singer, bard (Medieval); member of a group of singers who often perform in blackface
A medieval traveling entertainer who would sing and recite poetry, often to his own musical accompaniment
In medieval times, a minstrel was a singer and musician who travelled around and entertained noble families. Wandering musician of the Middle Ages, often of low status. The term (and equivalents such as Latin ioculator and French jongleur) was applied in medieval times to people ranging from singing beggars to traveling musicians hired by towns for special occasions to court jesters. The modern folksinger is a descendant. See also minstrel show
In the Middle Ages, one of an order of men who subsisted by the arts of poetry and music, and sang verses to the accompaniment of a harp or other instrument; in modern times, a poet; a bard; a singer and harper; a musician