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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. Chaucer.

The arts and occupation of minstrels; the singing and playing of a minstrel.

ances represented or described. I began last night to read Walter Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel . . . .I was extremely delighted with the poetical beauty of some parts . . . .The costume, too, is admirable. Sir J. Mackintosh.

Am assembly or session of the Welsh bards; an annual congress of bards, minstrels and literati of Wales, -- being a patriotic revival of the old custom.

The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship. Chaucer. With that a joyous fellowship issued Of minstrels. Spenser.

A reciter of gests or legendary tales; a story-teller. [Obs.] Minstrels and gestours for to tell tales. Chaucer.

Music; minstrelsy; entertainment. [Obs.] Chaucer.

A name anciently given to an itinerant minstrel or musician.

A player on the harp; a minstrel. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks . . . Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms. Longfellow.

l about and turn about and jump Jim Crow," produced in 1835 by T. D. Rice, a famous negro minstrel. [Slang, U. S.]

Old; ancient; as, the olden time. "A minstrel of the olden stamp." J. C. Shairp.

A gallery for minstrels. [Obs.] W. Hamper.

Before. [Obs.] Toforn him goeth the loud minstrelsy. Chaucer. Would thou wert as thou tofore hast been! Shak.

ccessful; to fail. I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection. 1 Cor. ix. 27. The minstrel fell, but the foeman's chain Could not bring his proud soul under. Moore.

hou know, O vain man, that faith apart from works is barren James ii. 20 (Rev. Ver.). The minstrels played on every side, Vain of their art. Dryden.

htes.] Hark! are the waits abroad Beau & Fl. The sound of the waits, rude as may be their minstrelsy, breaks upon the mild watches of a winter night with the effect of perfect harmony. W. Irving. To lay wait, to prepare an ambuscade. -- To lie in wait. See under 4th Lie.

A key to tune a stringed instrument of music. The minstrel . . . wore round his neck a silver chain, by which hung the wrest, or key, with which he tuned his harp. Sir W. Scott.

The song of a minstrel; hence, any song. [Obs.] Chaucer.