sable

¹

[ sey-buhl ]

noun

, plural sa·bles, sa·ble.

1. an Old World weasellike mammal, Mustela zibellina, of cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific Islands, valued for its dark brown fur.
2. a marten, especially Mustela americana.
3. the fur of the sable.
4. the color black, often being one of the heraldic colors.
5. sables, mourning garments.

adjective

1. of the heraldic color sable.
2. made of the fur or hair of the sable.
3. very dark; black.

Sable

²

[ sey-buhl ]

noun

1. Cape Sable,
   1. a cape on a small island at the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia, Canada: known for its lighthouse.
   2. a cape at the southern tip of Florida.

Sable

¹

/ ˈseɪbəl /

noun

1. a cape at the S tip of Florida: the southernmost point of continental US
2. the southernmost point of Nova Scotia, Canada

sable

²

/ ˈseɪbəl /

noun

1. a marten, Martes zibellina, of N Asian forests, with dark brown luxuriant fur zibeline
2. 1. the highly valued fur of this animal
   2. ( as modifier )

      a sable coat

3. American sable
   the brown, slightly less valuable fur of the American marten, Martes americana
4. the colour of sable fur: a dark brown to yellowish-brown colour

adjective

1. of the colour of sable fur
2. black; dark; gloomy
3. usually postpositive heraldry of the colour black

Word History and Origins

Origin of sable¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English sable, saibel, sabil(le) “a sable, pelt of a sable; (the color) black,” from Old French sable, saibile “a sable, sable fur” ( Medieval Latin sabel(l)um “sable fur”), from Middle Low German sabel (compare late Old High German zobel ), from Slavic or Baltic; compare Russian sóbol', Polish soból, Czech sobol, Lithuanian sàbalas; further origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of sable¹

C15: from Old French, from Old High German zobel, of Slavic origin; related to Russian sobol', Polish sobol

Example Sentences

The four largest herbivores wearing GPS collars -- nyala, kudu, sable and elephant -- had no fatalities.

From Science Daily

One of the ferrets is described as a sable polecat ferret, and the other is a silver ferret.

From BBC

“The day after she arrived,” Ms. Smith wrote, “the fur coats, including one sable, one chinchilla and a mink, were missing,” apparently stolen from the actress’s hotel room.

From New York Times

That means baking British-style biscuits — lemon sugar sables, almond orange pillows and ginger molasses cookies — plus slabs of chocolate cake and fluffy ricotta cake topped with her own strawberry compote.

From Seattle Times

For an even more immersive experience, spend the day driving around with scientists who are tracking, monitoring and recording collared animals such as lions, sable antelopes or wild dogs.

From Seattle Times