n. & v. (US saber)
--n.
1. a cavalry sword with a curved blade.
2 a cavalry soldier and horse.
3 a light fencing-sword with a tapering blade.
--v.tr. cut down or wound with a sabre.
Phrases and idioms:
sabre-bill any S. American bird of the genus Campylorhamphus with a long curved bill. sabre-cut
1. a blow with a sabre.
2 a wound made or a scar left by this. sabre-rattling a display or threat of military force. sabre-toothed designating any of various extinct mammals having long sabre-shaped upper canines. sabre-wing a S. American humming-bird, Campylopterus falcatus, with curved wings.
Etymology: F, earlier sable f. G Sabel, S{auml}bel, Schabel f. Pol. szabla or Magyar szablya