The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Sable \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. (Zool.) 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.
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   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.
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   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.
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   2. The fur of the sable.
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   3. A mourning garment; a funeral robe; -- generally in the
      plural. "Sables wove by destiny." --Young.
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   4. (Her.) The tincture black; -- represented by vertical and
      horizontal lines crossing each other.
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