Dark somewhat brownish black.

ETYM Old Fren. sable, French zibeline sable, Late Lat. sabellum; cf. Dutch sabel, Dan. sabel, zobel, Swed. sabel, sobel, German zobel; all from Russ. sóbole.
1. Marten of North Asian forests having luxuriant dark brown fur; SYN. Martes zibellina.
2. The expensive dark brown fur of the marten.
3. A scarf (or trimming) made of sable.
4. An artist's brush made of sable hair; SYN. sable's hair pencil.
Black; dark; of a black colour in heraldry.
Marten Martes zibellina, about 50 cm/20 in long and usually brown. It is native to N Eurasian forests, but now found mainly in E Siberia. The sable has diminished in numbers because of its valuable fur, which has long attracted hunters.
Conservation measures and sable farming have been introduced to save it from extinction.