saber

1 of 2

noun

sa·​ber ˈsā-bər How to pronounce saber (audio)
variants or chiefly British sabre
1
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade, thick back, and guard
2
a
: a light fencing or dueling sword having an arched guard that covers the back of the hand and a tapering flexible blade with a full cutting edge along one side and a partial cutting edge on the back at the tip compare épée, foil entry 4
b
: the sport of fencing with the saber

Illustration of saber

Illustration of saber
  • saber 1

saber

2 of 2

verb

variants or chiefly British sabre
sabered or sabred; sabering or sabring ˈsā-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce saber (audio)

transitive verb

: to strike, cut, or kill with a saber

Examples of saber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Just recently, there’s evidence that some of the anti-monopoly saber rattling might be working. Steven Hill, The Mercury News, 20 July 2024 Poke someone with the saber, and its blade will safely collapse without damage. Sean Hollister, The Verge, 31 Aug. 2024 Just like the Olympic equivalent, wheelchair fencing consists of three disciplines: foil, épée, and saber. Molly Higgins, WIRED, 19 Aug. 2024 Susan Baek Fencing uses three different weapons: epee (or épée), foil and saber. Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 30 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for saber 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French sabre, modification of German dialect Sabel, from Middle High German, probably of Slav origin; akin to Russian sablya saber

First Known Use

Noun

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saber was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near saber

Cite this Entry

“Saber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saber. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

saber

noun
sa·​ber
variants or sabre
ˈsā-bər
: a cavalry sword with a curved blade
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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