Coal black is a dark shade of black, often described as being similar to the color of coal. The term has been used in literature and art since the 19th century. In crossword puzzles, two words that can be used to describe coal black are EBON (4 letters) and SABLE (5 letters). EBON is an archaic word for black, derived from the Latin word eburneus, meaning ivory-like. SABLE is a dark brownish-black color, derived from the fur of the SABLE, a species of marten found in northern Asia.