ETYM Old Eng. saffran, French safran; cf. Italian zafferano, Spanish azafran, Portu. açafrăo; all from Arabic and Per. za' farân.
1. Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food; SYN. saffron crocus, Crocus sativus.
2. Dried pungent stigmas of the Old World saffron crocus.
Plant Crocus sativus of the iris family, probably native to SW Asia, and formerly widely cultivated in Europe; also the dried orange-yellow stigmas of its purple flowers, used for coloring and flavoring. orange-yellow.
1. Crocus donnant un aromate.
2. (Maritime) Partie du gouvernail.