From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
saffron
n 1: Old World crocus having purple or white flowers with
aromatic pungent orange stigmas used in flavoring food
[syn: saffron, saffron crocus, Crocus sativus]
2: dried pungent stigmas of the Old World saffron crocus
3: a shade of yellow tinged with orange [syn: orange yellow,
saffron]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Saffron \Saf"fron\ (?; 277), a.
Having the color of the stigmas of saffron flowers; deep
orange-yellow; as, a saffron face; a saffron streamer.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Saffron \Saf"fron\, v. t.
To give color and flavor to, as by means of saffron; to
spice. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]
And in Latyn I speak a wordes few,
To saffron with my predication. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Saffron \Saf"fron\ (?; 277), n. [OE. saffran, F. safran; cf. It.
zafferano, Sp. azafran, Pg. a[,c]afr[~a]o; all fr. Ar. & Per.
za' far[=a]n.]
1. (Bot.) A bulbous iridaceous plant (Crocus sativus)
having blue flowers with large yellow stigmas. See
Crocus.
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]
3. An orange or deep yellow color, like that of the stigmas
of the Crocus sativus.
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Bastard saffron, Dyer's saffron. (Bot.) See Safflower.
Meadow saffron (Bot.), a bulbous plant ({Colchichum
autumnale}) of Europe, resembling saffron.
Saffron wood (Bot.), the yellowish wood of a South African
tree (Elaeodendron croceum); also, the tree itself.
Saffron yellow, a shade of yellow like that obtained from
the stigmas of the true saffron (Crocus sativus).
[1913 Webster]