1. [n]  marten of North Asian forests having luxuriant dark brown fur
2. [n]  a scarf (or trimming) made of sable
3. [n]  an artist's brush made of sable hair
4. [n]  a very dark black
5. [n]  the expensive dark brown fur of the marten
6. [adj]  dark somewhat brownish black

Sable
Tate is thrilled that her father has allowed her to adopt a stray dog, which she calls Sable, even though she must keep it outside because of her mother`s fear of dogs. Tate loves Sable, but her neighbors don`t feel the same way, and they begin complaining about Sable`s habits. Fed up, Tate`s father gives Sable away. Tate dreams of having her dog come back home, and sets out to prove that she is responsible enough to care for her pet. Illustrated with b&w; drawings.

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1. \Sa"ble\, n. [OF. sable, F. zibeline sable (in sense 4),
   LL. sabellum; cf. D. sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Sw. sabel,
   sobel, G. zobel; all fr. Russ. s['o]bole.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family
      ({Mustela zibellina}) native of the northern latitudes of
      Europe, Asia, and America, -- noted for its fine, soft,
      and valuable fur.
   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.
   2. The fur of the sable.
   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.
   

2. \Sa"ble\, a.
   Of the color of the sable's fur; dark; black; -- used chiefly
   in poetry.
         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.
   

3. \Sa"ble\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Sabled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Sabling}.]
   To render sable or dark; to drape darkly or in black.
         Sabled all in black the shady sky.       --G. Fletcher.