jester
jester Lexical Profile
jester Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A professional entertainer or fool in a medieval or Renaissance royal court, typically dressed in a motley costume with a cap and bells, employed to amuse the monarch and nobility with jokes, songs, and acrobatics.
"In Shakespearean drama, the court jester often speaks the deepest truths under the guise of foolishness."
A person who habitually tells jokes, plays pranks, or acts in a playful, humorous manner.
"As the resident jester of the office, he always knew how to lighten the mood during stressful meetings."
• Rhymes for jester
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'gestour', originally meaning a minstrel or reciter of romances, derived from Anglo-French 'gestour' and Latin 'gesta' (deeds or exploits). As these performers increasingly incorporated comedy into their routines, the word shifted to refer specifically to a court fool or comedian.