saffron
[saf-ruh n]
- 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.
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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. 2018
saffron
- 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
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French safran, from Medieval Latin safranum, from Arabic za'farān
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for vegetable-gold
saffron
n.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper