saffron

[saf-ruh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR saffron ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Also called vegetable gold. a crocus, Crocus sativus, having showy purple flowers.

an orange-colored condiment consisting of its dried stigmas, used to color and flavor foods.

Also saffron yellow. a yellowish-orange color.

Origin of saffron

1150–1200; Middle English saffran, saffron Old French safran < Medieval Latin saffrānum < Arabic zaʿfarān

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for saffron

amber, ivory, lemon, gold, blond, cream, buff, chrome, saffron, sand, bisque, tawny, xanthous

Examples from the Web for saffron

Contemporary Examples of saffron

Later, around 400 BC, they invented faloodeh: rice water, vermicelli, and ice mixed with saffron and/or fruit.
An Investigation Into the Delicious Origins of Ice Cream
Andrew Romano
July 13, 2014
The souped-up scarf comes in a Moroccan black and saffron tile print.
J. Crew’s Best Accessories from Fall 2013
Misty White Sidell
February 13, 2013
And yet there was Saraswati, ordered to trade in the saffron robes for an orange jumpsuit.
The Fugitive Guru
Ben Crair
June 21, 2011
Cheese biscuits, asparagus spears with garlic and saffron mayonnaise, and mixed salted, roasted nuts.
We Are Off to the Races!!
Lydia Brownlow
June 7, 2011
The savory cod served by Nafisi's family was perfumed with lemon and saffron and gently sauteed.
Persian New Year Celebration With Author Azar Nafisi
Karen Fragala Smith
March 23, 2011

Historical Examples of saffron

The yellow seeds of lilies will answer nearly the saffron's purpose.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
It will be ready an hour and a half after the saffron is in.
The Lady's Own Cookery Book, and New Dinner-Table Directory;
Charlotte Campbell Bury
Pick eight ounces of English saffron very clean, cut it fine, and steep it twenty-four hours in a gallon of the best white wine.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
To dye gloves to look like York tan or Limerick, put some saffron into a pint of water boiling hot, and let it infuse all night.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
Take as much vinegar as will cover them, boil it with a little salt, and a pennyworth of saffron tied in a piece of muslin.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton

British Dictionary definitions for saffron

saffron

noun

an Old World crocus, Crocus sativus, having purple or white flowers with orange stigmas

the dried stigmas of this plant, used to flavour or colour food

meadow saffron another name for autumn crocus

false saffron another name for safflower

an orange to orange-yellow colour
(as adjective)a saffron dress

Word Origin for saffron

C13: from Old French safran, from Medieval Latin safranum, from Arabic za'farān

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for saffron

c.1200, from Old French safran (12c.), from Medieval Latin safranum (cf. Italian zafferano, Spanish azafran), ultimately from Arabic az-za'faran, which is of unknown origin. As a color word and an adjective, late 14c. German Safran is from French; Russian shafran' is from Arabic.