rockabillyn.
/ˈrɒkəˌbɪli/, U.S. /ˈrɑkəˌbɪli/ Originally U.S.
1. A type of popular music, originating in the south-eastern United States in the 1950s, combining elements of rock 'n' roll and country music. Also occasionally: the style of dress worn by performers or fans of this type of music.Recorded earliest in attributive use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > pop music > [noun] > rock > types of
jazz-rock1915
rockabilly1956
rockaboogie1956
hard rock1959
folk-rock1963
soft rock1965
surf rock1965
acid rock1966
raga rock1966
progressive rock1968
Christian rock1969
cock rock1970
punk1970
punk rock1970
space rock1970
swamp rock1970
techno-rock1971
glitter rock1972
grunge1973
glam-rock1974
pub rock1974
alternative rock1975
dinosaur rock1975
prog rock1976
AOR1977
New Wave1977
pomp rock1978
prog1978
anarcho-punk1979
stadium rock1979
oi1981
alt-rock1982
noise1982
noise-rock1982
trash1983
mosh1985
emo-core1986
Goth1986
rawk1987
emo1988
grindcore1989
darkwave1990
queercore1991
lo-fi1993
dadrock1994
nu metal1995
1956 Billboard 16 June 17/3 Elvis Presley continues to clean up in both the pop LP and single markets. However, the wave of ‘rock-a-billy’ imitators (which accompanies Presley's rise) has sharply receded during the last couple of weeks.
1956 Billboard 8 Dec. 22/3 Johnny Burnette is on hand to inject a touch of rockabilly in ‘Lonesome Train’.
1971 R. A. Carter Manhattan Primitive (1972) xx. 190 A drummer, a guitarist, and a trumpet player pounded out rockabilly.
1980 Daily Mirror 10 Apr. 12/2 Rockabilly is Eighties style. Special shops are opening to cater for the revived demand.
2008 New Yorker 11 Feb. 22/2 They trade in swashbuckling rock with elements of rockabilly and spaghetti-Western theatrics.
2. A performer, esp. a singer, of this music.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musician > [noun] > pop musician > types of
hard rocker1942
bebopper1946
skiffler1948
bopper1951
rock 'n' roller1955
rockabilly1956
rock star1957
rocker1958
rock idol1958
rockster1960
funkster1963
country rocker1964
punk rocker1972
punk1976
punkster1976
cock-rocker1977
MC1979
rapper1979
thrasher1979
New Romantic1980
prog rocker1980
neo-punk1981
pomp rocker1981
rapster1981
rockist1981
hip-hopper1982
scratcher1982
skanker1983
pop tart1984
trash rocker1984
techno-head1985
Goth1986
Britpopper1989
gangsta1989
gangster rapper1989
popstrel1989
gangsta rapper1990
house-head1990
grunger1991
shoegazer1991
junglist1992
trip-hopper1993
1956 Billboard 1 Sept. 49/2 Yelvington is one of the more recent of Sun's string of talented rockabillies.
1969 B. C. Malone Country Music U.S.A. 246 A hybrid specimen developed: an individual who possessed characteristics of both the rock-and-roll and country singer, the rockabilly.
1995 Scotsman 21 Oct. (Weekend section) 51/5 Saturday, October 21: Wray Gun and The Rockets Black Bull Inn, Union Terrace Gardens. Fairly jokey band of venerable Scot rockabillies, 12.30, free.
2001 Quicksilver Mag. Spring 53/1 In the 1950s rockabillies were cool and wore smart shoes. Elvis was cool and wore suede shoes. Brando was cool and he wore motorcycle boots.
Compounds
General attributive.
ΚΠ
19561Rockabilly singer [see sense 1].
1962 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 19 Nov. 6/6 I suggest that as a public service the rock-a-billy radio stations join together to present an informative, unsponsored, prime time, two-hour program.
1989 C. S. Murray Crosstown Traffic 210 The Beatles' records primarily showcased the rockabilly plunk of George Harrison's favoured Gretsch instruments and the bright jangle of John Lennon's Rickenbackers.
2006 ‘A. Ant’ Stand & Deliver vii. 197 The sound was to be Motown-ish, with soul-sounding horns and rockabilly guitar, the beat being big as usual, though not Burundi-like.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1956