1. plural of antimask; a comic or grotesque performance that contrasted with and preceded a formal masque in 17th-century English theater
Usage: historical; chiefly British

Examples

• The antimasks in Ben Jonson's productions featured clowns and acrobats who entertained the audience before the main masque began.
• Scholars study antimasks to understand the social humor and satire of Renaissance court entertainment.
• The contrast between the crude antimasks and the elegant masque reflected class distinctions in early modern theater.