A cartoon of a jester talking to a donkey, who is sitting behind a podium wearing glasses.

Cartoon of Jester and Donkey

A cartoon of a jester talking to a donkey, who is sitting behind a podium wearing glasses.

A ceremony of homage to the king in medieval times.

Ceremony of Homage

A ceremony of homage to the king in medieval times.

An illustration of fourteenth century architecture, dress, and musical instruments at Nursted Court, Kent. The nobles and the rich ore on the left talking, while the musicians and the juggler on the right are entertaining the nobles. The musicians are playing kettle drum, shawm, Portative (hand organ), vielle, and a harp.

Musician and Nobles in Nursted Court

An illustration of fourteenth century architecture, dress, and musical instruments at Nursted Court,…

Chauncey Depew disgraced by the reaction to the tunnel construction accident.

Depew as Jester

Chauncey Depew disgraced by the reaction to the tunnel construction accident.

A jester entering into the royal court.

Jester

A jester entering into the royal court.

A jester, joker, jokester, fool, wit-cracker, prankster, or buffoon is a member of a profession that came into popularity in the Middle Ages. Jesters are always thought to have worn brightly colored clothes and eccentric hats in a motley pattern. Their hats, sometimes called the cap 'n bells, cockscomb (obsolete coxcomb), were especially distinctive; made of cloth, they were floppy with three points (liliripes) each of which had a jingle bell at the end. The three points of the hat represent the ass's ears and tail worn by jesters in earlier times. Other things distinctive about the jester were his laughter and his mock scepter, known as a bauble or maharoof.

Jester

A jester, joker, jokester, fool, wit-cracker, prankster, or buffoon is a member of a profession that…

An illustration of a jester attempting to catch a money bag.

Jester & Money Bag

An illustration of a jester attempting to catch a money bag.

An illustration of a jester using a phone which is attached to a phonograph.

Jester & Phone

An illustration of a jester using a phone which is attached to a phonograph.

An illustration of a jester being hit by a statue.

Jester & Statue

An illustration of a jester being hit by a statue.

An illustration of a jester chasing a ball.

Jester Chasing Ball

An illustration of a jester chasing a ball.

An illustration of a jester riding a chariot attached to a star.

Jester in Chariot

An illustration of a jester riding a chariot attached to a star.

An illustration of a jester looking through a telescope.

Jester Looking Through Telescope

An illustration of a jester looking through a telescope.

An illustration of a jester surrounded by no trespassing signs.

Jester Trespassing

An illustration of a jester surrounded by no trespassing signs.

An illustration of a man in a jester costume.

Jester with Deflated Balloon

An illustration of a man in a jester costume.

An illustration of two jesters fighting in the rain.

Two Jesters Fighting

An illustration of two jesters fighting in the rain.

An illustration of a man dressed in a jester costume.

Jester

An illustration of a man dressed in a jester costume.

In Longfellow's poem, an angel took King Robert's place and made Robert the royal jester until he admitted he deserved it.

King Robert of Sicily

In Longfellow's poem, an angel took King Robert's place and made Robert the royal jester until he admitted…

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

What the Moon Saw

A scene from the story, "What the Moon Saw."

A woman at a Jester costume dance.

Woman as Jester

A woman at a Jester costume dance.

An illustration of a woman dumping a bucket of water on a jester from a window.

Woman Dumping Water on Jester

An illustration of a woman dumping a bucket of water on a jester from a window.

An illustration of two women and a jester standing on the street.

Two Women and Jester on Street

An illustration of two women and a jester standing on the street.