n.
Pronunciation: ' s ā -b ə l
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural sables
Etymology: 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
Date: 14th century
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