BA´LATRO
BA´LATRO a 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 (
Gel. 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]