Etymology

sepian

S1E1P3I1A1N1

Today it means: Of the sepia, i.e. the cuttlefish. Full definition →

First used mid 20th c.
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The story

From sepia + -n.

First known use, by meaning

  • from mid 20th c. Of a dark or inky colour, often in reference to skin pigmentation.
  • from mid 20th c. Belonging to or pertaining to black Americans or African Americans, who typically have dark pigmentation of the skin.
  • from mid 20th c. A black American or African American.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.