SAFFRON.

Heb. karkom, Arab. zafran (i.e., “yellow”), mentioned only in Cant. 4:13, 14; the Crocus sativus. Many species of the crocus are found in Palestine. The pistils and stigmata, from the centre of its flowers, are pressed into “saffron cakes,” common in the East. “We found,” says Tristram, “saffron a very useful condiment in travelling cookery, a very small pinch of it giving not only a rich yellow colour but an agreable flavour to a dish of rice or to an insipid stew.”

(yellow). (Song of Solomon 4:14) Saffron has front the earliest times been in high esteem as a perfume. “It was used,” says Rosenmuller, “for the same purposes as the modern pot-pourri.” The word saffron is derived from the Arabic zafran, “yellow.” (The saffron (Crocus sativus) is a kind of crocus of the iris family. It is used its a medicine, as a flavoring and as a yellow dye. Homer, Virgil and Milton refer to its beauty in the landscape. It abounds in Palestine name saffron is usually applied only to the stigmas and part of the style, which are plucked out and dried.—ED.)

SAF'FRON. Song 4:14. Undoubtedly this is the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), which, with other species of this plant, abounds in Palestine. This kind is in high repute as a perfume; hence its mention among spices. The pistils of its blossoms, gathered, dried, and pressed into cakes or ground, became the saffron of commerce, which is used as an orange dye and is also employed in medicine in the East. This substance is also valued for adding flavor and aroma to food and drink.

SAF'FRON. Song 4:14. Undoubtedly this is the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus), which, with other species of this plant, abounds in Palestine. This kind is in high repute as a perfume; hence its mention among spices. The pistils of its blossoms, gathered, dried, and pressed into cakes or ground, became the saffron of commerce, which is used as an orange dye and is also employed in medicine in the East. This substance is also valued for adding flavor and aroma to food and drink.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. 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).

Part of speech: verb (v.)

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.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

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