n. 1 esp. US variety entertainment. 2 a stage play on a trivial theme with interspersed songs. 3 a satirical or topical song with a refrain. vaudevillian adj. & n.
[ F, orig. of convivial song esp. any of those composed by O. Basselin, 15th-c. poet born at Vau de Vire in Normandy ]