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kabuki - 3 dictionary results

ka⋅bu⋅ki

  [kah-boo-kee, kuh-, kah-boo-kee]
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–noun
1. popular drama of Japan, developed chiefly in the 17th century, characterized by elaborate costuming, rhythmic dialogue, stylized acting, music, and dancing, and the performance of both male and female roles by male actors. Compare Nō.
2. (initial capital letter) Also called Grand Kabuki. public performances of this type of drama.
Origin:
1895–1900; < Japn: orig., as v., to act dissolutely; usually written with phonograms that carry the meanings “song-dance-skill”
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Ka·bu·ki   (kə-bōō'kē)   
n.  A type of popular Japanese drama, evolved from the older No theater, in which elaborately costumed performers, nowadays men only, use stylized movements, dances, and songs in order to enact tragedies and comedies.

[Japanese, art of singing and dancing : ka, singing (from Middle Chinese) + bu, dancing (from Middle Chinese muə, wuə) + ki, art, artist (from Middle Chinese gi, khi).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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kabuki 
1899, from Japanese, popular theater (as opposed to shadow puppet-plays or lyrical Noh dramas), lit. "art of song and dance," from ka "song" + bu "dance" + ki "art." Alternate etymology (in Webster's) is from nominal form of kabuku "to be divergent, to deviate," from early opinion of this form of drama. Since c.1650, all parts are played by males.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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