balatro
balatro, a babbler, jester, buffoon
- a babbler; hence, a jester, one who makes sport, a buffoon (it seems to have desig-nated a class of actors, perh. a harlequin, jester, or something similar): mendici, mimae, balatrones, hoc genus omne, Hor. S. 1, 2, 2; Vop. Carin. 21.—Facetē, in Varr. as a designation of his friends when in dispute, Varr. R. R. 2, 5, 1 Schneid.
hinc mimi, ‥ ~ones, emiliani ‥ et tota joculatorum scena procedit
bālātro voces, bālātro consumit inescas
de ~onibus et de furtivis mortificatoribus(
de blaseriis et murdritoribus
- a babbler, jester, buffoon, H.
BA´LATROa professional jester, buffoon, or parasite (Hor. Sat. 1.2, 2); in Sat. 2.8, 21 the word isused as a proper name--Servilius Balatro). In spite of the difference of quantity, bălătro is probably connected with bala-re (to bleat like a sheep, and hence) to speak sillily. It is doubtless akin to blatero, a chatterer (Gell. 1.15). Balatrones were paid for their jests, and the tables of the wealthy were generally open to them for the sake of the amusement they afforded.
[A.S.W]A professional jester, buffoon, or parasite. In spite of the difference of quantity, balatro is probably connected with balare (to bleat like a sheep) and hence, to speak foolishly. It is donbtless also akin to blatero, a chatterer (Gell.i. 15). Balatrones were paid for their jests, and the tables of the wealthy were generally open to them for the sake of the amusement they afforded. See Scurra; Parasitus.