sable

views updated May 23 2018

sa·ble1 / ˈsābəl/ • n. a marten (Martes zibellina) with a short tail and dark brown fur, native to Japan and Siberia and valued for its fur. ∎  the fur of the sable.sa·ble2 • adj. poetic/lit. black.• n. 1. poetic/lit. black. 2. (also sable antelope) a large African antelope (Hippotragus niger) with long curved horns, the male of which has a black coat and the female a russet coat, both having a white belly.

sable

views updated May 21 2018

sable the heraldic term for black, recorded from Middle English. The word comes from Old French, and is generally taken to be identical with sable as the name for a marten with a short tail and dark brown fur, native to Japan and Siberia and valued for its fur.

sable

views updated May 21 2018

sable Marten native to Siberia. It has been hunted almost to extinction for its thick, soft, durable fur, which is dark brown, sometimes flecked with white. Length: to 60cm (24in). Family Mustelidae; species Martes zibellina.

sable

views updated May 23 2018

sable1 (fur of) a small carnivore. XV — OF. sable sable fur — medL. sabelum; ult. of Balto-Sl. orig. (cf. Lith. sābalas, Russ. sóbol').

sable

views updated May 14 2018

sable2 black colour (spec. in her.); black clothing XIV; adj. XV. — OF.; gen. presumed to be identical with prec., but sable fur is brown.

sablé

views updated May 21 2018

sablé Biscuit paste made with butter and flour; sweet or savoury.