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saf·flow·er

(săflou′ər)

1. A thistlelike Eurasian plant (Carthamus tinctorius) in the composite family, having orange flowers that produce seeds containing an oil used for cooking and in food products, cosmetics, and paints.

2. The dried flowers of this plant, formerly used as a source of yellow and orange dyes.

[Middle English saflour, from Old French safleur, from Old Italian saffiore (influenced by Old Italian fiore, flower), from Arabic 'uṣfur.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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