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.
see also:
vaudevil variety show