English
gleeman
Gleeman comes from Old English glēomann ‘a minstrel, musician’.
- Old Englishc. 450–1150glēomann‘a minstrel, musician’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gleman
- Englishearliest quotation 1948gleeman
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Englishc. 450–1150glēomann‘a minstrel, musician’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500gleman
- Englishearliest quotation 1948gleeman
Earliest quotation: 1948, Robert Graves: “The ancient Celts carefully distinguished the poet, who was…”
Formed from glee ‘music’ + man
Proto-Indo-European *gʰlew- ‘to joke, make fun, enjoy’
Proto-Germanic *glīwą ‘joy, mirth’
Proto-West Germanic *glīw
Old English glēo ‘glee, pleasure, mirth, play, sport’
Middle English gle
English glee
Proto-Germanic *mann- ‘human being, person, man’
Proto-West Germanic *mann ‘person’
Old English mann ‘human being, person, man’
Middle English man
English man
Every English word from Old English glēomann
Today it means
noun A professional singer, bard, or other entertainer.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old English glēomann / gleeman