Truhan – Spanish

A 17th century Spanish dictionary gave this definition of the word truhan (plural: truhanes), zooming in on the licence jesters had to speak freely.  I like the laconic ‘even the truth’.

Truhanes – admitido en los palacios de los reyes, y en las casas de los grandes señores, y tiene licencia de dezir lo que se le antojare, aunque es verdad.

 

Jesters – were admitted to the palaces of kings and the houses of great lords and have licence to say whatever pleases them, even the truth.

 

Source: Sebastian de Covarrubias Horozco, Tesoro de la lengua castellana o espanola (Madrid: Turner, 1984), s.v. ‘truhan’

 

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