A professional entertainer employed to amuse a royal court or noble household, typically through jokes, stories, and foolish behavior. Jesters often wore distinctive colorful clothing and were granted unusual freedom to mock authority.
From Old French 'gestour' meaning storyteller, from 'geste' meaning deed or story. The word evolved from meaning a reciter of heroic deeds to someone who entertains through humor and wit.
Medieval jesters were often the only people who could criticize kings and nobles without losing their heads - their role as 'fools' gave them a unique license to speak truth to power through humor. Many were actually quite intelligent and served as informal advisors.
Court jesters were historically male roles with rare female exceptions (Anne Boleyn's female fool briefly noted). The role carried cultural authority denied women in formal court positions.
Use as neutral professional role, but acknowledge female jesters and comedians as historically marginalized in formal settings.
["comedian","satirist","fool"]
Female comedians and wits (Aphra Behn, Fanny Brice) performed this function outside formal institutions due to exclusion.
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