Balatro

In ancient Rome, a was a professional jester or buffoon. were paid for their jests, and the tables of the wealthy were generally open to them for the sake of the amusement they afforded. There are various theories about the origin of the term. In Horace, Balatro is used as a proper name: . An old scholiast derives the common word from the proper name, suggesting that buffoons were called because was a buffoon, though others have since objected to this account. Festus derives the word from , and supposes buffoons to have been called because they were dirty fellows, covered with spots of mud from walking. Another writer suggests a derivation from , because they, so to speak, carried their jesting to market, even into the very depth of the shambles may be connected with , "to bleat like a sheep", and hence, to speak sillily. Others have suggested a connection with , a busy-body. References Footnotes