SAF'FRON, noun [The radical sense is to fail, or to be hollow, or to be exhausted. 1. A plant of the genus Crocus. The bastard saffron is of the genus Carthamus, and the meadow saffron of the genus Colchicum. 2. In the materia medica, saffron is formed of the stigmata of the Crocus officinalis, dried on a kiln and pressed into cakes. SAF'FRON, adjective Having the color of saffron flowers; yellow; as a saffron face; a saffron streamer. SAF'FRON, verb transitive To tinge with saffron; to make yellow; to gild.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI