sabre
Americannoun
noun
-
a stout single-edged cavalry sword, having a curved blade
-
a sword used in fencing, having a narrow V-shaped blade, a semicircular guard, and a slightly curved hand
-
a cavalry soldier
verb
Etymology
Origin of sabre
C17: via French from German (dialect) Sabel, from Middle High German sebel, perhaps from Magyar száblya; compare Russian sablya sabre
Compare meaning
How does sabre compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Regardless, the statement amounted to unusual nuclear sabre rattling.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2025
"The only feline species that was threatened at this level was the sabre tooth tiger thousands of years ago."
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2025
In a groundbreaking study, an international team led by scientists from the University of Liège has investigated the evolutionary patterns behind the development of sabre teeth, with some unexpected results along the way.
From Science Daily ● May 16, 2024
For many years, he has been among the best in the Americas in foil and sabre.
From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2024
There are lots of girls carrying all kinds of blades: foil, epee, sabre.
From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Many more than a hundred sabred gentlemen pressed round to "do themselves the honor," as they expressed it, of paying Cunningham a compliment.
From Rung Ho! by Mundy, Talbot
There's a splendid fellow here, a Pole, called Koratinsky; he commanded the cavalry at Ostrolenca, and, it is said, rode down the Russian Guard, and sabred the Imperial Cuirassiers to a man.
From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. I by Lever, Charles James
Carmagnoled and sabred, they lounged in slothful consultation and obscured the air with bad tobacco-smoke.
From The False Chevalier or, The Lifeguard of Marie Antoinette by Lighthall, W. D. (William Douw)
The Russian hussars of Ysum were sabred and overthrown at Kelm.
From History of the Expedition to Russia Undertaken by the Emperor Napoleon in the Year 1812 by Ségur, Philippe-Paul, comte de
Even Wellington's self hath averred Thou art yet but half sabred and hung, And I loved him the more when I heard Such tenderness fall from his tongue.
From The Complete Poems of Sir Thomas Moore Collected by Himself with Explanatory Notes by Rossetti, William Michael
If I were to march into Moldavia," a Rumanian was telling me, "against the enemies of Austria, I would have to begin by sabring all the Moldavian peasants, who are crying, 'Down with Austria!'
From The New York Times Current History, A Monthly Magazine The European War, March 1915 by Various
Half a dozen huzzaing and sabring troopers saw the three and shouted to others nearer yet.
From The Long Roll by Johnston, Mary
Page 453, line 40, read "sabring" for "sobering."
From History of Kershaw's Brigade by Dickert, D. Augustus
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
