safranum

Forms

safrānum n (genitive safrānī); second declension^[1] It is also spelled saffranum, zafranum and zaffranum.^[1][2]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Arabic زَعْفَرَان (zaʕfarān, “saffron”).^[1][2][3] Etymonline calls the Arabic word itself of unknown origin.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest record the DMLBS gives is from 1217: saffron together with spices “for our kitchen”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In Medieval Latin it is the spice made from the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus, and also the name of the plant itself.^[2][1] A British text understands it as ochre.^[2] Du Cange quotes a Catalan statute of 1291 that forbade Jews to make loans or bargains in grain, oil or saffron.^[5]

The Latin word was borrowed into Old French as safran and Middle Dutch as saffraen,^[1] and English saffron (about 1200) came through Old French from it.^[4]

Timeline

• 1217 – A British record lists saffron among spices for the kitchen.^[2]
• 1291 – A statute of James I of Aragon for Catalonia names it with grain and oil.^[5]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Saffron, the spice made from the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus.^[2][1][3]
2. (Medieval Latin) The saffron crocus.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) Ochre (by confusion).^[2]

Related words

• English saffron

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre