noun · countable / uncountable · rare

sable

sa·ble

sable · sables

соболь

Zobel, Schwarz

A small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina,…A small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina, from cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific islands, valued for its dark brown fur.

/ˈseɪbəl/

Meaning

8 senses

(countable)A small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina, from cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific islands, valued for its dark brown fur.
(countable)Any other marten, especially Martes americana (syn. Mustela americana).
(countable, uncountable)A pelt of fur of a sable or of one of another species of martens; a coat made from this fur.
a scarf (or trimming) made of sable
(countable)An artist's brush made from the fur of the sable, the kolinsky sable-hair brush.
an artist's brush made of sable hairs
(uncountable)A black colour on a coat of arms.
a very dark black
(countable, uncountable)A dark brown colour, resembling the fur of some sables.
the expensive dark brown fur of the marten
(countable, in the plural, uncountable)Black garments, especially worn in mourning.
(countable, uncountable)The sablefish.

Translations

9 languages

Українська

By meaning 1

animal:

Русский

By meaning 1

animal:

Deutsch

By meaning 2

animal:

heraldic colour:

Origin

Attested since 1275, from Middle English sable, from Old French sable and martre sable (“s

Attested since 1275, from Middle English sable, from Old French sable and martre sable (“sable marten”), in reference to the animal or its fur; from Medieval Latin sabelum, from Middle Low German sabel (compare Middle Dutch sabel, Middle High German zobel, whence German Zobel); ultimately from a Slavic word (compare Russian со́боль (sóbolʹ), Polish soból, Czech sobol). Compare also Middle Persian smwl (*samōr).

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