jongleur

[ jong-gler; French zhawn-glœr ]

noun

, plural jon·gleurs [jong, -glerz, zhaw, n, -, glœr].

1. (in medieval France and Norman England) an itinerant minstrel or entertainer who sang songs, often of his own composition, and told stories.

jongleur

/ ʒɔ̃ɡlœr /

noun

1. (in medieval France) an itinerant minstrel

Word History and Origins

Origin of jongleur¹

1755–65; < French; Middle French jougleur (perhaps by misreading, ou being read on ), Old French jogleor < Latin joculātor joker, equivalent to joculā ( rī ) to joke + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of jongleur¹

C18: from Old French jogleour, from Latin joculātor joker, jester; see juggle

Example Sentences

There has come a travelling jongleur from Auvergne, who tells a wonderful tale of your deed at Valmont.

From Project Gutenberg

So the angels gave the lad white wings like their own, and a great viol like a jongleur's.

From Project Gutenberg

But how is this to be done, and which of my little court dare attempt this tour de jongleur with any chance of success?

From Project Gutenberg

In French he was called jongleur or jugleur, menestrel or menestrier.

From Project Gutenberg

Sancho, forward, in a high sweet voice like a jongleur's voice, was singing to the men an endless ballad.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crooner
• minstrel
• songwriter