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 with an extremely large hearing horn.

Jester & Hearing Horn

An illustration of a jester with an extremely large hearing horn.

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 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.