word history: The word vaudeville 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 vaudeville. It was adopted into English in the 18th century, when it denoted a satirical or topical song, especially one performed on the stage.