Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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}.
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
autumnale}) of Europe, resembling saffron.
{Saffron wood} (Bot.), the yellowish wood of a South African
tree ({El[ae]odendron croceum}); also, the tree itself.
{Saffron yellow}, a shade of yellow like that obtained from
the stigmas of the true saffron ({Crocus sativus}).
Meadow \Mead"ow\, a.
Of or pertaining to a meadow; of the nature of a meadow;
produced, growing, or living in, a meadow. ``Fat meadow
ground.'' --Milton.
Note: For many names of plants compounded with meadow, see
the particular word in the Vocabulary.
{Meadow beauty}. (Bot.) Same as {Deergrass}.
{Meadow foxtail} (Bot.), a valuable pasture grass
({Alopecurus pratensis}) resembling timothy, but with
softer spikes.
{Meadow grass} (Bot.), a name given to several grasses of the
genus {Poa}, common in meadows, and of great value for nay
and for pasture. See {Grass}.
{Meadow hay}, a coarse grass, or true sedge, growing in
uncultivated swamp or river meadow; -- used as fodder or
bedding for cattle, packing for ice, etc. [Local, U. S.]
{Meadow hen}. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The American bittern. See {Stake-driver}.
(b) The American coot ({Fulica}).
(c) The clapper rail.
{Meadow lark} (Zo["o]l.), any species of {Sturnella}, a genus
of American birds allied to the starlings. The common
species ({S. magna}) has a yellow breast with a black
crescent.
{Meadow mouse} (Zo["o]l.), any mouse of the genus {Arvicola},
as the common American species {A. riparia}; -- called
also {field mouse}, and {field vole}.
{Meadow mussel} (Zo["o]l.), an American ribbed mussel
({Modiola plicatula}), very abundant in salt marshes.
{Meadow ore} (Min.), bog-iron ore, a kind of limonite.
{Meadow parsnip}. (Bot.) See under {Parsnip}.
{Meadow pink}. (Bot.) See under {Pink}.
{Meadow pipit} (Zo["o]l.), a small singing bird of the genus
{Anthus}, as {A. pratensis}, of Europe.
{Meadow rue} (Bot.), a delicate early plant, of the genus
{Thalictrum}, having compound leaves and numerous white
flowers. There are many species.
{Meadow saffron}. (Bot.) See under {Saffron}.
{Meadow sage}. (Bot.) See under {Sage}.
{Meadow saxifrage} (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant of Europe
({Silaus pratensis}), somewhat resembling fennel.
{Meadow snipe} (Zo["o]l.), the common or jack snipe.
Source : WordNet®
meadow saffron
n : bulbous autumn-flowering herb with white, purple or
lavender-and-white flowers; native to western and central
Europe [syn: {autumn crocus}, {naked lady}, {Colchicum
autumnale}]