sable

¹sa·ble

noun \ˈsā-bəl\

plural sables

Definition of SABLE

1

a : the color black

b : black clothing worn in mourning —usually used in plural

2

a or plural sable (1) : a carnivorous mammal (Martes zibellina) of the weasel family that occurs chiefly in northern Asia (2) : any of various animals related to the sable

b : the fur or pelt of a sable

3

: the usually dark brown color of the fur of the sable

Examples of SABLE

1. a brush made of sable

Origin of SABLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Middle Low German sabel sable or its fur, from Middle High German zobel, of Slavic origin; akin to Russian sobol' sable or its fur

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with SABLE

able, Babel, Bebel, cable, fable, Froebel, gable, label, stable, table

²sable

adjective

Definition of SABLE

1

: of the color black

2

: dark, gloomy

First Known Use of SABLE

15th century

Related to SABLE

Synonyms

ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, black

Antonyms

white

Related Words

dark, dusky, inky; blackish, brunet (or brunette)

Near Antonyms

bright, brilliant, light, pale, palish

sable

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Carnivore (Martes zibellina, family Mustelidae) that inhabits forests of northern Asia and is highly valued for its fur. The name is sometimes applied to related European and Asian species and to the American marten. The sable is 13–20 in. (32–51 cm) long, excluding the 5–7-in. (13–18-cm) tail, and weighs 2–4 lbs (0.9–1.8 kg). The coat varies from brown to almost black. The solitary, arboreal sable eats small animals and eggs.