noun
feigning ignorance; pretending to be naive
Refers to the act of pretending not to know something, often in a coy or affected manner. Commonly used in the phrase かまととぶる.
彼女はかまととぶって、知らないふりをした。
She pretended to be naive and acted as if she didn't know.
noun
person pretending to be innocent; faux-naïf
Often used for a woman who acts more innocent or ignorant than she really is. Can carry a slightly critical or teasing tone.
あの子はかまととだから、本当は何でも知っているよ。
That girl is a faux-naïf; she actually knows everything.
とぼける is a verb meaning 'to play dumb' or 'to feign ignorance,' while かまとと is a noun describing the act or the person who does it.
猫かぶり means 'feigning friendliness' or 'hiding one's true nature,' often with a focus on pretending to be gentle or harmless, whereas かまとと specifically emphasizes pretending to be ignorant or naive.
The origin is uncertain. One common theory traces it to a story about a woman who pretended not to know what 蒲鉾 (かまぼこ, fish cake) was, calling it とと (childish word for fish), hence かまとと. However, this is not firmly established.