Saffron
Saffron (?; 277) , noun
[Old English saffran, French safran; compare Italian zafferano, Sp. azafran, Portuguese acafrão; all from Arabic & Per. za' farān.]
1.
(Botany) A bulbous iridaceous plant (Crocus sativus) having blue flowers with large yellow stigmas. See Crocus.
2.
The aromatic, pungent, dried stigmas, usually with part of the stile, of the Crocus sativus. Saffron is used in cookery, and in coloring confectionery, liquors, varnishes, etc., and was formerly much used in medicine.
3.
An orange or deep yellow color, like that of the stigmas of the Crocus sativus.
Collocations (4)
Meadow saffron (Botany) , a bulbous plant (Colchichum autumnale) of Europe, resembling saffron.
Saffron wood (Botany) , the yellowish wood of a South African tree (Elaeodendron croceum); also, the tree itself.
Saffron yellow , a shade of yellow like that obtained from the stigmas of the true saffron (Crocus sativus).
Saffron (?; 277) , adjective
Having the color of the stigmas of saffron flowers; deep orange-yellow; as, a saffron face; a saffron streamer.
Saffron , transitive verb
To give color and flavor to, as by means of saffron; to spice. [Obsolete]
And in Latyn I speak a wordes few,
To saffron with my predication.