Burlesque originated in 17th century Italian theater as a type of comic interlude. The word derives from the Italian "burla," a joke, ridicule or mockery.

Burlesque can be applied to literature, music and theater. It's often a form of humorous parodies or pastiches of serious dramatic or classical works. It was related and partly derived from the English tradition of pantomime, in which a musical theatre parodied a serious work such as a Shakespeare play, with the addition of music and songs and humorous verse.

A certain level of literacy was assumed of audience members, as burlesque often made various high-brow references.