sable

Where does the word "sable" come from? It comes from Russian sobol, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).

Sable’s story begins in Russian: sobol meant “the sable animal.” The name for the dark-furred marten of Siberia. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as sable. Russian sable pelts were among the most valuable goods of the medieval fur trade through Novgorod. It reached English by medieval as sable. In heraldry 'sable' is the name for black. Today, sable means a small, dark-furred mammal, or the color black, especially in heraldry.

1. Stage 1 · Russian · medieval sobol "the sable animal", the name for the dark-furred marten of Siberia.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval sable "the sable's dark fur", Russian sable pelts were among the most valuable goods of the medieval fur trade through Novgorod.
3. Stage 3 · English · medieval sable "a dark fur; the color black", in heraldry 'sable' is the name for black.