Soubrette
WordNet
noun
(1) A minor female role as a pert flirtatious lady's maid in a comedy
(2) A pert or flirtatious young girl
WiktionaryText
Etymology
From , from soubreto, the feminine of soubret ‘coy’, from soubra (Provençal sobrar), from superare ‘be above’.
Noun
- A female servant or attendant, especially as mischievous or cheeky, often featuring in theatrical comedies
- 1936, Henry Miller, Black Spring:
- And then too it was exhilarating to see the baron come sailing in with a pair of soubrettes on his arm – each time a different pair.
- 1997, Thomas Pynchon, Mason & Dixon:
- The servants in the hall tonight are whitely-wigged black slaves in livery of a certain grade of satin and refinement of lace,– black Major-domos and black Soubrettes.
- 1936, Henry Miller, Black Spring:
Trivia
Soubrette was the winning word at the 26th Scripps National Spelling Bee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripps_National_Spelling_Bee
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Noun
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