English
Lesbian
Lesbian comes from Latin Lesbius.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CELesbius
- Englishearliest quotation 1597Lesbian
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CELesbius
- Englishearliest quotation 1597Lesbian
Earliest quotation: 1597, John King, Lectures upon Jonas […]: “Our Saviour in the gospel preferreth old wine before…”
The story
The sense of “gay woman” is a reference to Sappho, a famous inhabitant of Lesbos and gay poet.
Every English word from Latin Lesbius
Today it means
noun A native or inhabitant of Lesbos.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin Lesbius / Lesbian