1660s, "derisive imitation, grotesque parody," from French burlesque (16c.), from Italian burlesco, from burla "joke, fun, mockery," possibly ultimately from Late Latin burra " [..]

A work that ridicules a topic by treating something exalted as if it were trivial or vice-versa. See also parody and travesty.

A work designed to ridicule a style, literary form, or subject matter either by treating the exalted in a trivial way or by discussing the trivial in exalted terms (that is, with mock dignity). Burles [..]

"a form of comedy characterized by ridiculous exaggeration." [Holman]

An imitation of a literary style, or of human action, that aims to ridicule by incongruity of style and subject. High burlesque involves a high style for a low subject (Pope’s The Rape of the Lock; low burlesque involves a low style with a high subject, as in much political satire.

Refers to ridiculous exaggeration in language, usually one that makes the discrepancy between the words and the situation or the character silly. For example, to have a king speak like an idiot or a w [..]

From the Italian word burla, meaning "mockery." A crude form of satire in which the style of a work, or of an entire genre, is ridiculed by trivializing a serious subject or dignifying a tri [..]

A humorous composition, usually involving parody or grotesque exaggeration.

The word comes from the Italian and means “mockery”. In music, the word appertains to an imitative performance in a non-serious manner intended to entertain by caricaturing, ridiculing or distorting t [..]

(n) a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor; consists of comic skits and short turns (and sometimes striptease)(n) a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usua [..]

Father of burlesque poetry. Hippo’nax of Ephesus. (Sixth century B.C.)

Parodical; parodic * Addison *: It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras.

An artful strip tease often set to music and involving elaborate costumes, stage props, and feathers. Now burlesque shows are typically conservative strip teases meant to appeal to other women who hav [..]

Burlesque is a comic style that works in one of two ways: you can either elevate something lowly and ridiculous (high burlesque) or trivialize something lofty and important (low burlesque). Burlesque [..]