(2) But their most proper and expressive name was
Glιphleoþꞃιenꝺ, musicus, a minstrel; and
Glιphleoþꞃιenꝺlιca, musicus, musical.
These two words include the full idea of the minstrel character, expressing at once their music and singing, being compounded of Glιp, musicus, mimus, a musician, minstrel; and Leoð, carmen, a song.
(3) From the above word Glιᵹᵹ, the profession itself was called.
Glιᵹcꞃæꝼꞇ (glig or glee-craft), musica, histrionia, mimica gesticulatio: which Somner rightly gives in English, ministrelsy, mimical gesticulation, mummery. He also adds stage-playing: but here again I think he substitutes an idea too modern, induced by the word histrionia, which in middle latinity only signifies the minstrel-art.
However, it should seem that both mimical gesticulation and a kind of rude exhibition of characters were sometimes attempted by the old minstrels: but
(4) As musical performance was the leading idea, so
Glιopιan, is Cantus musicos edere; and
Glιᵹbeam, ᵹlιpbeam (glig or glee-beam), tympanum; a timbrel or taber. (So Somn.) Hence