Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Minstrel \Min"strel\, n. [OE. minstrel, menestral, OF.
   menestrel, fr. LL. ministerialis servant, workman (cf.
   ministrellus harpist), fr. L. ministerium service. See
   {Ministry}, and cf. {Ministerial}.]
   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.

Source : WordNet®

minstrel
     n 1: a singer of folk songs [syn: {folk singer}, {jongleur}, {poet-singer},
           {troubadour}]
     2: a performer in a minstrel show

minstrel
     v : celebrate by singing, in the style of minstrels