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sable

sabre

noun SAH-bleh Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: From French sabre, possibly from Hungarian szablya.

Also means

sable (heraldry)

Usage Note

Sable primarily means a curved cavalry sword (sabre). In heraldry it also denotes the colour black (el sable in a coat of arms). The idiom ruido de sables (literally 'noise of sabres') refers to a latent military threat of a coup. Not to be confused with sabio (wise) or the animal sable (marta cebellina).

Examples

"El soldado desenvainó el sable ante la tropa."

Natural Translation

The soldier drew his sabre before the troops.

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