vaudevillian

[ vawd-vil-yuhn, vohd-, vaw-duh- ]

noun

1. Also vaudevil·list. a person who writes for or performs in vaudeville.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of vaudeville.

Word History and Origins

Origin of vaudevillian¹

First recorded in 1925–30; vaudeville + -ian

Example Sentences

For one thing, the vaudevillian madness onstage — which juxtaposes twee songs with violent video, highbrow with Hollywood, the mundane with the alien — does not build on its political subject matter.

From New York Times

It’s a younger generation than the new vaudevillians like Bill Irwin and David Shiner, but this group has the same inventiveness, ambition and dedication to breathing new life into old shtick.

From New York Times

To generations of musical aficionados, Ms. Rivera was a whirling, bounding, high-kicking elemental force of the dance; a seductive singer of smoky ballads and sizzling jazz; and a propulsive actress of vaudevillian energy.

From New York Times

When Parkkinen wants to expand the class’ repertoire, he visits Los Angeles’ Central Library and peruses the performance section; recently he was inspired by exercises found in a 1920s book for vaudevillians.

From Seattle Times

Later, “Dance of the Reed Flutes” becomes a sleazy, vaudevillian show tune sung by an anthropomorphic Rat King to his loyal subjects, a group of baying rodents dressed like SS officers.

From New York Times