a member of any of several guilds, mainly of workingmen, organized in German cities in the 14th-16th cent. for cultivating music and poetry
See Meistersinger in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(mīsˈtər-sĭngˌər)
nounpl.MeistersingerMeistersinger or Meis·ter·sing·ers
A member of one of the guilds organized in the principal cities of Germany in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries to establish competitive standards for the composition and performance of music and poetry. Also called mastersinger.