Vaudevil

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Vaudeville \Vaude"ville\, n. [F., fr. Vau-de-vire, a village in
     Normandy, where Olivier Basselin, at the end of the 14th
     century, composed such songs.] [Written also {vaudevil}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. A kind of song of a lively character, frequently embodying
        a satire on some person or event, sung to a familiar air


        in couplets with a refrain; a street song; a topical song.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of
        which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set
        to familiar airs.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The early vaudeville, which is the forerunner of the
              opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant.
                                                    --Johnson's
                                                    Cyc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. a {variety show} when performed live in a theater (see
        above); as, to play in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]