Mid 16th century; earliest use found in John Alday (fl. 1566–1579), translator. From Middle French, French histrion actor in a musical farce in ancient Rome, bad actor from classical Latin histriōn-, histriō.
Definition of histrion in US English:
histrion
nounˈhɪstrɪən
depreciative
An actor.
Origin
Mid 16th century; earliest use found in John Alday (fl. 1566–1579), translator. From Middle French, French histrion actor in a musical farce in ancient Rome, bad actor from classical Latin histriōn-, histriō.