sable

sable, species of marten, Martes zibellina, found in Siberia, N European Russia, and N Finland. This carnivorous mammal is highly valued for its thick, soft fur, which is dark brown or black, sometimes with white underparts and sometimes flecked with silver. Unrestricted hunting for several centuries has exterminated the sable in some regions and dangerously reduced it in others; it now survives chiefly in the mountains of the northernmost parts of its former range. Protection is now afforded in parts of Russia, and it is raised on farms. The fur of the American marten, M. americana, sometimes called the American sable, also commands a price, although not as high as that of the true sable. Sables are classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Carnivora, family Mustelidae.

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sable

Carnivore (Martes zibellina, family Mustelidae) that inhabits forests of northern Asia and is highly valued for its fur. The name is sometimes applied to related European and Asian species and to the American marten. The sable is 13–20 in. (32–51 cm) long, excluding the 5–7-in. (13–18-cm) tail, and weighs 2–4 lbs (0.9–1.8 kg). The coat varies from brown to almost black. The solitary, arboreal sable eats small animals and eggs.

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sable

1. a marten, Martes zibellina, of N Asian forests, with dark brown luxuriant fur

2. 

a. the highly valued fur of this animal

b. (as modifier): a sable coat

3. American sable the brown, slightly less valuable fur of the American marten, Martes americana

4. the colour of sable fur: a dark brown to yellowish-brown colour

5. of the colour of sable fur

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Sable Cape

1. a cape at the S tip of Florida: the southernmost point of continental US

2. the southernmost point of Nova Scotia, Canada

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sable [′sā·bəl]

(vertebrate zoology)

Martes zibellina.A carnivore of the family Mustelidae; a valuable fur-bearing animal, quite similar to the American marten.

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sable

fur of this mammal produces luxurious, soft fur coats. [Western Culture: Misc.]

See : Luxury

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sable

black fur represents repentance. [Heraldry: Halberts, 37]

See : Penitence