1753, theatrical jargon word for lady's maid characters in plays and operas, who typically were pert, flirtatious, and intriguing, from French soubrette, from Proven?al soubreto "affected, conceited," fem. of soubret "coy, reserved," from soubra "to set aside," originally "to exceed," from Old Proven?al sobrar, from Latin superare "to rise above, overcome," from super "over, above, beyond" (see super-).