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Jester
A jester, court jester, or fool, was historically an entertainer during the medieval and Renaissance eras who was a member of the household of a nobleman or a monarch employed to entertain him and his guests. A jester was also an itinerant performer who entertained common folk at fairs and markets. Jesters are also modern-day entertainers who resemble their historical counterparts.
Jesters in medieval times are often thought to have worn brightly coloured clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern and their modern counterparts usually mimic this costume. Jesters entertained with a wide variety of skills: principal among them were song, music, and storytelling, but many also employed acrobatics, juggling, telling jokes, and magic tricks. Much of the entertainment was performed in a comic style and many jesters made contemporary jokes in word or song about people or events well known to their audiences.
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Jester (noun)
One who jests, jokes or mocks.
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Jester (noun)
A person in colourful garb and fool’s cap who amused a medieval and early modern royal or noble court.
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Jester (noun)
a professional joker or ‘fool’ at a medieval court, typically wearing a cap with bells on it and carrying a mock sceptre.
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Jester (noun)
a person who habitually plays the fool.
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Joker (noun)
a person who is fond of joking.
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Joker (noun)
a foolish or inept person
“a bunch of jokers”
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Joker (noun)
a playing card, typically bearing the figure of a jester, used in some games as a wild card.
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Joker (noun)
a clause unobtrusively inserted in a bill or document and affecting its operation in a way not immediately apparent.