Note: The sable resembles the marten, but has a longer head
and ears. Its fur consists of a soft under wool, with a
dense coat of hair, overtopped by another still longer.
It varies greatly in color and quality according to the
locality and the season of the year. The darkest and
most valuable furs are taken in autumn and winter in
the colder parts of Siberia, Russia, and British North
America.
Note: The American sable, or marten, was formerly considered
a distinct species ({Mustela Americana}), but it
differs very little from the Asiatic sable, and is now
considered only a geographical variety.
3. A mourning garment; a funeral robe; -- generally in the
plural. ``Sables wove by destiny.'' --Young.
4. (Her.) The tincture black; -- represented by vertical and
horizontal lines crossing each other.
Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne, In rayless
majesty, now stretches forth Her leaden scepter o'er a
slumbering world. --Young.
{Sable antelope} (Zo["o]l.), a large South African antelope
({Hippotragus niger}). Both sexes have long, sharp horns.
The adult male is black; the female is dark chestnut
above, white beneath.
{Sable iron}, a superior quality of Russia iron; -- so called
because originally stamped with the figure of a sable.
{Sable mouse} (Zo["o]l.), the lemming.
Sabled all in black the shady sky. --G. Fletcher.