Se"pi*a , a. Of a dark brown color, with a little
red in its composition; also, made of, or done in, sepia.
Se"pi*a (?), n.;
pl. E. Sepias (#), L. Sepiæ
(#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;&?;&?; the
cuttlefish, or squid.]
1. (Zoöl.) (a) The common European
cuttlefish. (b) A genus comprising the common cuttlefish and numerous similar species. See Illustr. under
Cuttlefish.
2. A pigment prepared from the ink, or black secretion, of the sepia,
or cuttlefish. Treated with caustic potash, it has a rich brown color; and this mixed with a red forms
Roman sepia. Cf. India ink, under India.
Sepia drawing
or picture, a drawing in
monochrome, made in sepia alone, or in sepia with other brown pigments.
Hear it pronounced