Saf"fron , v. t. 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.
Saf"fron (?; 277), a.
Having the color of the
stigmas of saffron flowers; deep orange-yellow; as, a
saffron face; a saffron streamer.
Saf"fron (?; 277), n.
[OE. saffran, F. safran; cf. It. zafferano, Sp. azafran, Pg. açafrão; all fr. Ar. & Per. za' farān.]
1. (Bot.) 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
autumnale) 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).
Hear it pronounced