Hypertext Webster Gateway: "vaudeville"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Vaudeville \Vaude"ville\, n.
Loosely, and now commonly, variety (see above), as, to play
in vaudeville; a vaudeville actor.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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}.]
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.
2. A theatrical piece, usually a comedy, the dialogue of
which is intermingled with light or satirical songs, set
to familiar airs.
The early vaudeville, which is the forerunner of the
opera bouffe, was light, graceful, and piquant.
--Johnson's
Cyc.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
vaudeville
n : a variety show with songs and comic acts etc. [syn: {music
hall}]
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