burlesque
UK[bɜːˈlɛsk]US[bɝːˈlɛsk]
n
A performance or piece of writing that makes a serious subject seem ridiculous by using humor, exaggeration, or imitation.
n
A variety show featuring striptease and other bawdy comedy or entertainment.
adj
Relating to or characteristic of a burlesque; ridiculously exaggerated or comical.
Morpheme Breakdown
burlesque
burlesque
Unsegmentable
Etymology
The word 'burlesque' entered English in the 17th century from the French adjective 'burlesque', which itself derived from the Italian 'burlesco'. The Italian term originated from 'burla', meaning a joke, ridicule, or mockery. This etymological journey, from a word for jest to a formal term for a genre of satirical performance, illustrates the concept's evolution from a general act of mockery to a specific artistic style that uses caricature and absurdity to critique its subject. The modern association with theatrical variety shows, particularly those featuring striptease, developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, layering a new, more sensational performance tradition onto the older literary and theatrical form of satire.
Analysis
Structure: burlesque (Unsegmentable)
The word is a loanword from French and functions as a single, unsegmentable morpheme in English. Its internal structure is not transparent to English speakers without etymological knowledge.
Examples
The play was a brilliant burlesque of political life in the capital.
In the 1940s, she was a famous star of American burlesque.
His account of the meeting was so burlesque that no one could take it seriously.