saffron

Overview

Meaning Now

• A pungent, aromatic, orange-yellow culinary spice consisting of the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus).
• A moderate to strong orange-yellow color.

Journey

Saffron has been highly valued throughout history for its use as a dye, perfume, medicine, and food seasoning. Due to the labor-intensive harvesting process—requiring tens of thousands of crocus flowers to produce a single ounce of the spice—it has remained one of the most expensive spices in the world for millennia.

Evolution

1. Middle Persian

   za'farān

   “saffron”

2. Old French

   safran

   “saffron”

3. Middle English

   safron

   “spice derived from crocus”

4. Modern English

   saffron

   “spice or color”

Connections

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