Also short for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polymer (plastic) made from the toxic vinyl chloride monomer. Cult plastic of the 60's and 70's, but used not only for the storage of music and fancy air-cushions, but also for window frames, pipes and floors. In the 80's the usage was vastly reduced because of nasty health and environment problems with PVC and it's monomer. (If you really want to know it: the monomer vinyl chloride can be found sometimes in PVC products and is thought of to generate cancer. Some of the agents mixed in PVC are pretty toxic. And if you burn PVC, you create something pretty acidic. PVC is also thought of as starting point for dioxins.)
No, I don't know if vinyls are still made from PVC today. But I won't burn them.