Here's how the word evolved:
* Ancient Greek: "sépia" (σέπια) - meaning cuttlefish
* Latin: "sepia" - adopted the Greek word
* English: "sepia" - borrowed from Latin
The cuttlefish's ink has been used for centuries as a pigment and dye, resulting in the color "sepia" becoming associated with the brown-toned hues produced by the ink.
Therefore, the origin of the word "sepia" is directly linked to the cuttlefish and its ink.