Sabra

See also: sabra, sabrá, and sabrà

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew צַבָּר (tsabár, “prickly pear cactus”).

Noun

Sabra (plural Sabras)

1. A native-born Israeli.
   • 1950, David Goitein, “Making one people out of many”, in Bulletin, volumes 23-25, University of Kentucky, Bureau of School Service, page 22:

     There is a tendency to copy the "Sabra" , the Israel-born citizen, who is anxious to live the simple life and therefore throws off that part of his clothing which is intended for beauty rather than utility.

   • 1965, Robert Gamzey, Miracle of Israel, Herzl Press, page 294:

     The young people of Israel, sabra or foreign-born alike, give considerable thought to the future and do not hesitate to admit that they regard the problems they encounter as formidable.

   • 1979, Clive Sinclair, Hearts of Gold, Penguin, published 1983, page 45:

     One night a real Israeli came to speak. I had never seen a sabra before.

   • 2006, Peter Godwin, When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa:

     Even the phoenix of Zionism that rose from those ashes--the muscular sabras trying to reestablish a home in an unforgiving land surrounded by hostile Arabs--resonated too closely with my white African narrative.

Proper noun

Sabra

1. A female given name

Translations

native Israeli

• Finnish: sabra (fi)
• Hebrew: צַבָּר (he) (tsabár), סַבְּרֶה (he) (sábre)
• Polish: sabra (pl) m
• Yiddish: סאַברע m or f (sabre)

Anagrams

• Arabs, Baars, Baras, Basra, abras, arbas, sabar