Kabukimono
/ˌkɑː.buː.kiˈmoʊ.noʊ/noun
A flamboyantly dressed, rebellious urban warrior or social outsider in Japan during the late Muromachi and early Edo periods.
Did you know?The term’s root, kabuku, originally meant “to lean” or “incline,” then developed the figurative sense of behaving extravagantly, defiantly, or outside convention.
Etymological Timeline
Late Medieval Japan
Japanese
kabuku
“To lean, incline, or deviate from an upright position; later, to behave eccentrically or outrageously.”
16th Century
Japanese
kabukimono
“A person who behaved or dressed in an extravagantly unconventional manner.”
Late 16th–Early 17th Century
Japanese
かぶき者
“A flamboyant, unruly person, often associated with armed bands and samurai culture.”
Early Edo Period
Japanese
kabukimono
“A socially disruptive urban outsider known for conspicuous clothing, unusual hairstyles, weapons, and defiance.”
17th Century
Japanese
kabuki
“A theatrical style whose name derives from the same idea of eccentric or unconventional behavior.”
Modern English
English
kabukimono
“A historical Japanese term used in English-language writing for these flamboyant rebels or proto-kabuki figures.”