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Sable

Heraldic Terms
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

In heraldry, "sable" refers to the tincture or color black, often representing constancy, grief, or prudence.

Detailed Definition
Sable symbolizes grief, constancy, and sometimes wisdom. Literary references often associate it with mourning, mystery, or solemnity.
Example
Example in poetry:
Sable, the color of constancy in grief, draped the shield in solemn dignity; “Sable thoughts,” the elegy described a mind cloaked in mourning; The poet saw the raven as sable, messenger of prophecy and loss; In arms of widows, sable declared enduring love beyond death; Sable fields make charges shine brighter—poets use darkness to highlight truth.
Additional Notes
Sable is the heraldic term for black, symbolizing constancy, wisdom, or mourning; as a color, it follows the rule of tincture (must be on metal); in poetry, sable evokes solemnity, mystery, or eternal truth; it is common in funerary hatchments and ecclesiastical arms, and pairs powerfully with Or for high contrast (e.g., “sable, a lion rampant Or”).
Also Known As
Black Ebon
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