SapphicErotica! Have you ever wondered where the word "lesbian" comes from? Well, if you spend as much time thinking about lesbians as I do, then it has probably crossed your mind once or twice. The term "lesbian" that we use all the time today to describe a woman who loves a woman can be dated back to the time of ancient Greece. Perhaps you remember getting to know the island of Lesbos when you were in history or geography class?