The name Ogiri is derived from a word 'ogiri' or 'okiri' according to the Chinese characters and means the last item of the show in classical Japanese popular performing arts including Noh (traditional masked dance-drama), Joruri (ballad drama), and Kabuki.
大喜利という名は能・浄瑠璃・歌舞伎といった古典芸能の舞台で、最後の演目を意味する言葉として使われる「大切り」に由来する。