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soubrette
(suːˈbrɛt, ‖ subrɛt)
[a. F., ad. Prov. soubreto, fem. of soubret coy, reserved, f. soubra to set aside.]
1. Theatr. 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. In extended use, a woman playing a role or roles in light entertainment, e.g. on television or at a seaside variety show, with implications of pertness, coquetry, intrigue, etc.
1753H. Walpole Lett. (1840) III. 33 There is a soubrette, called the Niccolina. 1774Ibid. V. 391 A fat woman, rather elderly, who sometimes acted the soubrette. c1820S. Rogers Italy (1839) 57 He prompts the young Soubrette, conning her part. 1839Hallam Hist. Lit. iv. vi. §52 Congreve has made more use of the all-important soubrette, on whom so much depends in French comedy. 1871All 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. 1905R. Beach Pardners (1912) i. 33 Variety house, with..two-ton soubrettes, with Barrios diamonds and hand-painted socks. 1951Sunday Pictorial 21 Jan. 6/3 Harriet Cohen has the vivacity and femininity of a soubrette. 1956Ann. Reg. 1955 360 Adele Leigh scored a special success in the soubrette part of Bella. 1958Time 8 Oct. 6/3 His ‘wife’, Miss Rosita Segovia, takes too soubrette-like a view of this role. 1977Listener 27 Jan. 111/1 By the time she was 18, she was a soubrette at the Gaiety. 1978TV Times 28 Jan.–3 Feb. 26/2 Television's most resilient soubrette, Una Stubbs, can talk about love, marriage and happiness with a twinkle in her eye.
attrib.1887The 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.
1824Miss 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. 1848M. W. Savage Bachelor of the Albany (1854) 65 The Soubrette leading the way by stating the name of her mistress. 1880Ruskin Bible of Amiens i. (1884) 4 The little white-capped Amienoise soubrette.
Hence souˈbrettish a.
1891E. Field Bk. Western Verse 198 Soubrettish ways these latter days Invite my praise, but never get it. 1979J. Crosby Party of Year (1980) xiv. 156 The soubrettish face darkened. |