1849, "actress who plays comedy," from French comédienne, fem. of comédien (see comedian). From 1945 as "professional female joke-teller."
Entries linking to comedienne
comedian n.
1580s, "comic poet," later (c. 1600) "actor in stage comedies," also, generally, "actor;" from French comédien, from comédie (see comedy). Meaning "professional joke-teller, entertainer who performs to make the audience laugh" is from 1898. Old English had heahtorsmið "laughter-maker."