a. [ F. burlesque, fr. It. burlesco, fr. burla jest, mockery, perh. for burrula, dim. of L. burrae trifles. See Bur. ] Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images, or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it, as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular; ironical. [ 1913 Webster ]

It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like that of Hudibras. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire. [ 1913 Webster ]

Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter, or to ridicule anything. [ 1913 Webster ]

The dull burlesque appeared with impudence,
And pleased by novelty in spite of sense. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross perversion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred institute? Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Burlesqued p. pr. & vb. n. Burlesquing ] To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation in action or in language. [ 1913 Webster ]

They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the expression he used into ridicule. Stillingfleet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To employ burlesque. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who burlesques. [ 1913 Webster ]