べらぼう
べらぼう
na-adjective, adverb
ridiculously; absurdly (Edo dialect origin)
1.
ridiculously; absurdly; outrageously
Expresses that something is extreme, unreasonable, or beyond normal bounds.
Etymology
A word of Edo-period Tokyo speech that first meant "fool". Its origin is uncertain; one well-known theory traces it to a strange-looking man shown at a sideshow in the 1600s under the name べらぼう.
Usage
Mostly used as an intensifier meaning "ridiculously" or "outrageously." The original sense of "fool" is archaic and mainly appears in period dramas or traditional rakugo stories.
Similar words
Cultural note
べらぼうめ！ is a stereotypical exclamation associated with Edo-period commoners and is often heard in historical dramas (時代劇).