VAUDEVILLE


Meaning of VAUDEVILLE in English

[ 'vɔ:dəvɪl , 'vəʊd- ]

■ noun

1》 a type of entertainment popular in the early 20th century, featuring a mixture of musical and comedy acts.

↘a light or comic stage play with songs.

2》 archaic a satirical or topical song.

Derivatives

vaudevillian adjective &noun

Word History

The word ~ owes its existence to a 15th-century French composer, Olivier Basselin. He lived in the valley of Vire, in Normandy, and each of his songs was known as a chanson du Vau de Vire , or 'song of the valley of Vire'. This was shortened to vau de vire , which became vau de ville , and eventually ~ . It was adopted into English in the 18th century, when it denoted a satirical or topical song, especially one performed on the stage.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.