saffron

noun

1. Also called vegetable gold. a crocus, Crocus sativus, having showy purple flowers.
2. an orange-colored condiment consisting of its dried stigmas, used to color and flavor foods.
3. Also saffron yellow. a yellowish-orange color.

noun

1. an Old World crocus, Crocus sativus, having purple or white flowers with orange stigmas
2. the dried stigmas of this plant, used to flavour or colour food
3. meadow saffron another name for autumn crocus
4. false saffron another name for safflower
5. 1. an orange to orange-yellow colour
   2. (as adjective)a saffron dress

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.