soubrette
noun
sou·brette sü-ˈbret 
1
a
: a coquettish maid or frivolous young woman in comedies
b
: an actress who plays such a part
2
: a soprano who sings supporting roles in comic opera
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Not only did diners want to enjoy her singing in the cabaret, no doubt many could not resist coming to see for themselves the soubrette who had inspired such fury in the late George VI. 
Olivia Williams, Town & Country, 1 June 2021 That show featured a song called 'The Yama Yama Man,’ in which chorus girls cavorted in Yama Yama suits while a soubrette sang about the creepy Yama Yama Man. Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2017
Olivia Williams, Town & Country, 1 June 2021 That show featured a song called 'The Yama Yama Man,’ in which chorus girls cavorted in Yama Yama suits while a soubrette sang about the creepy Yama Yama Man. Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2017 Word History
Etymology
French, from Occitan soubreto, feminine of soubret coy, from soubra to surmount, exceed, from Latin superare — more at insuperable
First Known Use
1753, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
soubrettes
noun
as in coquets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- coquets
- coquettes
- jades
- flirts
- wantons
- flirters
- vamps
- have one's cake and eat it
- have one's cake and eat it too
- have one's day in court
- have one's ducks in a row
- have one's eye on
- have one's eye out for
- have one's feet cut out from under
- have one's feet cut out from under one
- have one's feet on the ground
- have one's finger on the pulse of
- have one's guard up
- have one's hands full
- have one's hands in the till
- have one's head examined
- have one's head on right
- have one's head on straight
- have one's head screwed on right
- have one's head screwed on straight
- have one's heart set on
- have one's heart set on (something)
- have one's heart set on something
- have one's hopes fixed on
- have one's hopes/sights fixed on
- have one's knees cut out from under
- have one's knees cut out from under one