1. A pretty, flirtatious woman's role in a comedy; especially, one in which she plays a lady's maid involved in romantic intrigues.
2. Etymology: from about 1753, "theatrical jargon for lady's maid characters in plays and operas, who were usually pretty, flirtatious, and intriguing."

From French, soubreto, "affected, conceited"; feminine of soubret, "coy, reserved", from soubra, "to set aside"; originally, "to exceed", from Old Provence sobrar, from Latin superare, "to rise above, to overcome"; from super, "over, above, beyond".