sabot

[ sab-oh; French sa-boh ]

noun

, plural sab·ots [sab, -ohz, s, a, -, boh].

1. a shoe made of a single block of wood hollowed out, worn especially by farmers and workers in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, etc.
2. a shoe with a thick wooden sole and sides and a top of coarse leather.
3. Military.
   1. a wooden or metal disk formerly attached to a projectile in a muzzleloading cannon.
   2. a soft metal ring at the base of a projectile that makes the projectile conform to the rifling grooves of a gun.

sabot

/ ˈsæbəʊ; sabo /

noun

1. a shoe made from a single block of wood
2. a shoe with a wooden sole and a leather or cloth upper
3. a lightweight sleeve in which a subcalibre round is enclosed in order to make it fit the rifling of a firearm. After firing the sabot drops away
4. a small sailing boat with a shortened bow

Other Words From

• sa·boted [sa-, bohd, sab, -ohd], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sabot¹

1600–10; < French, Old French çabot, blend of savate old shoe (of uncertain origin; akin to Old Provençal sabata, Italian ciabatta, Spanish zapato ) and bot boot ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sabot¹

C17: from French, probably from Old French savate an old shoe, also influenced by bot boot ¹; related to Italian ciabatta old shoe, Old Provençal sabata

Example Sentences

The boy drew pictures in the loose sand with the toe of his sabot and brushed them away one after the other.

From Project Gutenberg

"I came here before my children woke, because it pierces my heart to listen to their crying," the sabot-maker said dejectedly.

From Project Gutenberg

One was a perfect staple, another the letter "L," another like an axe-head, and one like a peasant's sabot.

From Project Gutenberg

A sabot filled with salt, a frying-pan, and a large kettle hung inside the chimney.

From Project Gutenberg

"There's many a pretty foot in a sabot," retorted Peter, with an air of philosophy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disc
• plate
• platter