/vawd"vil, vohd"-, vaw"deuh-/ , n.
1. theatrical entertainment consisting of a number of individual performances, acts, or mixed numbers, as by comedians, singers, dancers, acrobats, and magicians. Cf. variety (def. 9).
2. a theatrical piece of light or amusing character, interspersed with songs and dances.
3. a satirical cabaret song.
[ 1730-40; chanson du vau de Vire song of the VALE 1 of Vire, a valley of Calvados, France, noted for satirical folksongs ]