Kabuki was created around the year 1603. It started out as an ensemble of women who would dance and perform comic sketches on Kamogawa in Kyoto. Then Kabuki changed when the government passed a law in 1629 saying that all women were banned from performing Kabuki, all women roles were then acted by men. If you break the word up the meaning is in the word, ka-song, bu-dance, ki-skill.
photo from the following site:
http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/4179/kabuki_4.jpg
http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/4179/kabuki_4.jpg