A Sable....what is it??

[hmc]

Been bothering me every christmas for over three years now - What is a sable...as in 'santa baby, slip a sable under the tree for me'?

[dzug]

A sable is an animal that gives up its fur to make fur coats or wraps.

[Peter Pedant]

dead animal fur - white looks quite nice.

Not every dead animal is a sable of course

[logman]

I think its fur from a Russian Squirrel..

[felinechums]

I don't agree with you dzug. An animal does not give up its fur to make fur coats. The fur is taken from the animal by force, usually in a brutal way, after a miserable life and a painful, harrowing death. Often, the fur is taken while the animal is still alive. Santa knows better than to slip a sable (or any other dead animal) under my tree. . . . . . . .

[commoner]

Felinechums is not answering hmc's question and is actually merely using the post to make her opinions on the rights and wrongs of using fur as clothing...........

The answer to the question is that in this context a "Sable " is a fur coat made from the skins of the Sable which is a small quadruped, closely akin to the martens, and known by the zoological names of Martes zibellina or Mustela zibellina, originated in Siberia and has achieved fame for its fur, which is integrated into various clothes fashions (for example a Shtreimel). Sables range in color from tan to black, black being the most prized.

........The lady who wrote the song or is singing the song is obviously not of the same opinion as felinechums and wants Santa to include amongst her Christmas presents..........

[logman]

Spot on Commoner! ****

[shaneystar2]

And more useless information.. it was written by Joan Ellen Javits and Phillip and Tony Springer and originally sung by Eartha Kitt in 1953.

[ursula62]

As well as meaning a particular type of fur coat, "sable" is also a type of paintbrush mainly used by watercolour painters.

However, I don't think the song writer was asking santa baby for a paintbrush!

[dzug]

felinechums - I was being ironic - sarcastic even

[felinechums]

I understand dzug - didn't mean to rant. But I wonder why commoner assumes that I am female?