sable

Everyday

1. A small animal of the weasel family that lives in the forests of Russia and northern Asia, with soft dark brown fur. tree →
2. The fur of this animal, which was once very expensive. tree →
3. (literary, heraldry) Black: «sable» is the word for black on coats of arms. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons it is an animal of the taiga forest. In history, sable fur was a sign of wealth for kings and nobles. In art, fine paintbrushes were made from sable hair. Phrases: «sable fur», «sable brush».

Examples

• A sable is a small furry animal like a weasel. tree →
• The tsar wore a coat trimmed with sable. tree →
• Artists use soft sable brushes for watercolours. tree →
• Sables live in the cold forests of Siberia. tree →
• The knight's shield showed a sable lion on gold. tree →
• The sable's thick fur keeps it warm in winter. tree →
• Thus the vessel returned, like a raven, with the same sable wings that had wafted her away. tree →

Note

Plural: sables. Pronounced «SAY-bul». Many people today think wearing real fur is cruel; synthetic brushes are common now.