[F., ad. Prov. soubreto, fem. of soubret coy, reserved, f. soubra to set aside.]
1. Theat. A maid-servant or lady’s maid as a character in a play or opera, usually one of a pert, coquettish or intriguing character; an actress or singer taking such a part.
1753. H. Walpole, Lett. (1840), III. 33. There is a soubrette, called the Niccolina. Ibid. (1774), V. 391. A fat woman, rather elderly, who sometimes acted the soubrette.
c. 1820. S. Rogers, Italy (1839), 57. He prompts the young Soubrette, conning her part.
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., IV. vi. § 52. Congreve has made more use of the all-important soubrette, on whom so much depends in French comedy.
1871. All Year Round, 24 June, 91/1. Tragedy queens and comic soubrettes were alike to her, and she did not present them very differently to her audience.
attrib. 1887. The Lady, 20 Jan., 38/2. Miss Sergisson played the small part of Maid with ease and grace, and wore a very becoming soubrette toilette of pink and grey cotton.
2. A lady’s maid; a maid-servant.
1824. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. I. (1863), 131. She united the pleasant and amusing qualities of a French soubrette, with the solid excellence of an Englishwoman of the old school.
1848. M. W. Savage, Bachelor of the Albany (1854), 65. The Soubrette leading the way by stating the name of her mistress.
1880. Ruskin, Bible of Amiens, i. (1884), 4. The little white-capped Amienoise soubrette.
Hence Soubrettish a.
1891. E. Field, Bk. Western Verse, 198.
| Soubrettish ways these latter days | |
| Invite my praise, but never get it. |
