The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sirvente \Sir`vente"\, n. [F. sirvente, fr. Pr. sirventes, sirventesc, originally, the poem of, or concerning, a sirvent, fr. sirvent, properly, serving, n., one who serves (e. g., as a soldier), fr. servir to serve, L. servire.] A peculiar species of poetry, for the most part devoted to moral and religious topics, and commonly satirical, -- often used by the troubadours of the Middle Ages.
Wiktionary
n. (context music English) A mostly satirical song sung by the troubadours of Provence
Usage examples of "sirvente".
I remember well that, at the siege of Retters, there was a little, sleek, fat clerk of the name of Chaucer, who was so apt at rondel, sirvente, or tonson, that no man dare give back a foot from the walls, lest he find it all set down in his rhymes and sung by every underling and varlet in the camp.
Their favorite pieces were Sirventes (satirical pieces), love-songs, and Tensons, which last were a sort of dialogue in verse between two poets, who questioned each other on some refined points of love's casuistry.