sotie

/soh tee"/, n.

a satirical and topical comedy employing actors dressed in traditional fool's costume, popular in France during the late Middle Ages, and often used as a curtain raiser to mystery and morality plays.

Also, sottie.

[1785-95; < F, MF: lit., foolishness, equiv. to sot fool + -ie -Y³]

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▪ French drama

also spelled  Sottie,  

      short satirical play popular in France in the 15th and early 16th centuries, in which a company of sots (“fools”) exchanged badinage on contemporary persons and events. The sots, wearing the traditional short jacket, tights, bells, and dunce cap of the fool, also introduced acrobatics and farcical humour into the sketches. At first the sotie was used as an introductory piece to mystery and morality plays. Developing into an independent form, soties were created and staged by the Clercs de la Basoche, an association of law clerks; the Enfants sans Souci, a group of nobles; and other, more permanent companies. Pierre Gringore (Gringore, Pierre) became the preeminent sotie dramatist. The sotie was openly satirical and was used as a weapon in political battles. It was forbidden in the 16th century and replaced by more general forms of satire.

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