] Is sable a colour or the type of dead animal?

Apparently sable meant dark or black.

What about all those colours used in heraldry? I seem to remember sable is one of those. I suppose an added degree of pretentiousness would be that heraldic colours had an association with nobility and those who bore a coat of arms. They too were French in origin.

There are five basic heraldic colours. Gules (red), Azure (blue), Sable (black), Vert (green) and Purpure (purple). Sometimes also Tenne (orange), Sanguine (blood), Murrey (mulberry) and Bleu Celeste (sky blue). I think ermine is white (?). Also "argent" for silver and "or" for gold.

Still not sure about Marone / Maroon. Linden, are they the same colour?