vaudeville

(vôd′vil, väd′-; vô′də-, vä′də-)

noun

☆
1. a stage show consisting of mixed specialty acts, including songs, dances, comic skits, acrobatic performances, etc.
2. this branch of entertainment generally
Now Rare a comic theatrical piece interspersed with songs and dances
Obsolete a satirical or topical song, often with pantomime

Origin: Fr, earlier vau-de-vire, after Vau-de-Vire, the valley of the Vire (in Normandy), famous for light, convivial songs

See vaudeville in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. Stage entertainment offering a variety of short acts such as slapstick turns, song-and-dance routines, and juggling performances.
b. A theatrical performance of this kind; a variety show.
A light comic play that often includes songs, pantomime, and dances.
A popular, often satirical song.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , alteration of Old French vaudevire, occasional or topical light popular song

Origin: , possibly short for chanson du Vau de Vire, song of Vau de Vire, a valley of northwest France

Origin: , or perhaps dialectal vauder, to go

Origin: + virer, to turn; see veer¹

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