sepia

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromσηπία
2. Latin · borrowed fromsēpia“cuttlefish”
3. English todaysepia

Borrowed from Latin sēpia (“cuttlefish”), from Ancient Greek σηπία (sēpía). Cognate with Italian seppia, Portuguese siba, and Spanish sepia.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 1820s A dark brown pigment made from the secretions of the cuttlefish.
• from 16th c. A cuttlefish.