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Ermine vs Sable - What's the difference?

ermine | sable |

As nouns the difference between ermine and sable

is that ermine is a weasel, , found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail) while sable is , shortbread.

As verbs the difference between ermine and sable

is that ermine is to clothe with ermine while sable is .

As an adjective sable is

sandy.

ermine

English

Noun

(wikipedia ermine) (en-noun)
  • A weasel, , found in northern latitudes; its dark brown fur turns white in winter (apart from the black tip of the tail)
  • The white fur of this animal
  • (poetic) A symbol of purity
  • (figuratively) The office of a judge
  • (tincture) A white field with black spots
  • Synonyms

    * stoat (British) * short-tailed weasel * wild otter

    Verb

    (ermin)
  • To clothe with ermine
  • References

    * OED 2nd edition 1989

    Anagrams

    * ----

    sable

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (in heraldic contexts)

    Noun

  • A small carnivorous mammal of the Old World that resembles a weasel, Martes zibellina , from cold regions in Eurasia and the North Pacific islands, valued for its dark brown fur ().
  • The marten, especially .
  • The fur or pelt of the sable or other species of martens; a coat made from this fur.
  • *1928 , (Virginia Woolf),
  • *:Lovers dallied upon divans spread with sables .
  • An artist's brush made from the fur of the sable ().
  • (lb) A black colour on a coat of arms.
  • A black colour, resembling the fur of some sables.
  • :
  • Black garments, especially worn in mourning.
  • *(rfdate) Young
  • *:Sables wove by destiny.
  • *
  • *:a delighted shout from the children swung him toward the door again. His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there in carriage gown and sables , radiant with surprise. ¶ "Phil!  You!   Exactly like you, Philip, to come strolling in from the antipodes—dear fellow!" recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat in her gloved hands.
  • Derived terms

    * sable antelope * sablefish * sable iron * sable mouse

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of the black colour sable.
  • * (rfdate) Young
  • Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne, / In rayless majesty, now stretches forth / Her leaden sceptre o'er a slumbering world.
  • * 2002 , , chapter 3
  • They wound between the wagons to a tent removed from the rest of the traders'. It was crimson at the top and sable at the bottom, with thin triangles of colors stabbing into each other.
  • (tincture): In blazon, of the colour black.
  • Made of sable fur.
  • Dark, somber.
  • * '>citation
  • See also

    *

    References

    * Random House Dictionary, 2nd Edition, 1987.

    Anagrams

    * ----