sable
oxford
views updated May 23 2018sa·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.
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
sable
oxford
views updated May 21 2018sable 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.
The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES
sable
oxford
views updated May 21 2018sable 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.
World Encyclopedia
sable
oxford
views updated May 23 2018sable1 (fur of) a small carnivore. XV — OF.
sable sable fur — medL.
sabelum; ult. of Balto-Sl. orig. (cf. Lith.
sābalas, Russ.
sóbol').
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
sable
oxford
views updated May 14 2018sable2 black colour (spec. in her.); black clothing XIV; adj. XV. — OF.; gen. presumed to be identical with prec., but sable fur is brown.
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD
sablé
oxford
views updated May 21 2018sablé Biscuit paste made with butter and flour; sweet or savoury.
A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER
