kayfabe
English
Pronunciation
- IPA: /keɪfeɪb/
Etymology
Thought to have originated as carny slang for "protecting the secrets of the business"; may ultimately originate from Pig Latin for "fake" ("ake-fay") or the phrase "be fake" ("e-bay ake-fay").
Noun
kayfabe (uncountable)
- (professional wrestling) The portrayal of events within the industry as real; the portrayal of professional wrestling and the accompanying storylines as not staged or worked.