Zibeline
/ˈzɪbəlɪn/noun
A soft, usually woolen fabric with a short, fur-like nap resembling sable.
Did you know?Zibeline ultimately connects to the Russian name for the sable, an animal whose dense, dark fur became a major luxury commodity in medieval and early modern trade.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval period
Russian
соболь (sobol')
“Sable, the fur-bearing marten valued for its dense, dark pelt.”
Middle High German
German
zobel
“Sable; the animal or its fur, borrowed through eastern European trade networks.”
16th Century
Italian
zibellino
“Sable fur or a sable pelt.”
17th Century
French
zibeline
“Sable fur; later also a fabric made to resemble its soft surface.”
19th Century
English
zibeline
“A fabric with a short, soft, fur-like nap, generally made from wool.”