soubrette
[soo-bret]
noun
a maidservant or lady's maid in a play, opera, or the like, especially one displaying coquetry, pertness, and a tendency to engage in intrigue.
an actress playing such a role.
any lively or pert young woman.
RELATED WORDS
star, artist, character, clown, player, villain, comedian, entertainer, performer, thespian, impersonator, amateur, ham, lead, extra, understudy, mimic, foil, mime, idol
Nearby words
Origin of soubrette
1745–55; < French: lady's maid < Provençal soubreto, derivative of soubret affected, ultimately derivative of Old Provençal sobrar < Latin superāre to be above
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Examples from the Web for soubrette
soubrette
noun
Word Origin for soubrette
C18: from French: maidservant, from Provençal soubreto, from soubret conceited, from soubra to exceed, from Latin superāre to surmount, from super above
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soubrette
1753, theatrical jargon word for lady's maid characters in plays and operas, who typically were pert, flirtatious, and intriguing, from French, from Provençal soubreto "affected, conceited," fem. of soubret "coy, reserved," from soubra "to set aside," originally "to exceed," from Old Provençal sobrar, from Latin superare "to rise above, overcome," from super "over, above, beyond" (see super-).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper