Krokos

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of flowering plant known for its striking purple blooms, often associated with saffron production from its stigmas
2. A plant belonging to the iris family that produces vibrant flowers and is cultivated for its valuable spice derived from its blossoms
3. An ornamental and horticultural species recognized for its colorful petals and significance in culinary uses through its saffron harvest

Etymology: Krokos is the ancient Greek word for saffron, the spice made from the dried stigmas of the crocus flower, and it is one of the oldest words in the family of plant names that English later borrowed. The Greek term, probably itself borrowed from a Semitic language, was in use by Homeric times, and it came into English through Latin "crocus" in the Old English period, where it first named the saffron plant before the flower sense developed. The most striking point is that the Greek word spread across the whole Mediterranean and into Persian, Arabic and other languages, where the spice trade carried its various forms eastward. Its Arabic cognate, "zaʿfarān," is the source of the English word "saffron," so the familiar spice name and the flower's Latin-derived name come down by different routes from the same ancient root.

Synonyms: saffron