vendue

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

vendue
    n 1: the public sale of something to the highest bidder [syn:
         {auction}, {auction sale}, {vendue}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Vendue \Ven*due"\, n. [OF. vendue, from F. vendre, p. p. vendu,
   vendue, to sell.]
   A public sale of anything, by outcry, to the highest bidder;
   an auction. [Obsoles.]
   [1913 Webster]

   {Vendue master}, one who is authorized to sell any property
      by vendue; an auctioneer. [Obsoles.]
      [1913 Webster]