SAFFRON

saffron

(noun) dried pungent stigmas of the Old World saffron crocus

saffron, saffron crocus, Crocus sativus

(noun) Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

saffron (countable and uncountable, plural saffrons)

The plant Crocus sativus, a crocus.

A spice (seasoning) and colouring agent made from the stigma and part of the style of the plant, sometimes or formerly also used as a dye and insect repellent.

Synonym: kesar

An orange-yellow colour, the colour of a lion's pelt.

Synonym: saffron yellow

Adjective

saffron

Having an orange-yellow colour.

Verb

saffron (third-person singular simple present saffrons, present participle saffroning, simple past and past participle saffroned)

To add saffron to (a food), for taste, colour etc.

To give a saffron colour to (something).

To dye (a fabric, garment, etc.) with a saffron-based dye.

To colour (a metal or wooden surface) with a gilding product containing saffron.

(figuratively) To embellish.

Proper noun

Saffron

A female given name from English; a rare flower name from the saffron.

Source: Wiktionary


Saf"fron, n. Etym: [OE. saffran, F. safran; cf. It. zafferano, Sp. azafran, Pg. açafrao; all fr. Ar. & Per. za' faran.]

1. (Bot.)

Definition: 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. Bastard saffron, Dyer's saffron. (Bot.) See Safflower.

– Meadow saffron (Bot.), a bulbous plant (Colchichum autumnate) of Europe, resembling saffron.

– Saffron wood (Bot.), the yellowish wood of a South African tree (Elæodendron croceum); also, the tree itself.

– Saffron yellow, a shade of yellow like that obtained from the stigmas of the true saffron (Crocus sativus).

Saf"fron, a.

Definition: Having the color of the stigmas of saffron flowers; deep orange-yellow; as, a saffron face; a saffron streamer.

Saf"fron, v. t.

Definition: To give color and flavor to, as by means of saffron; to spice. [Obs.] And in Latyn I speak a wordes few, To saffron with my predication. Chaucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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