Saf"ra*nin (?), n. Chem. (a)
An orange-red dyestuff extracted from the saffron.
[R.] (b)
A red dyestuff extracted from the safflower, and formerly used in dyeing wool, silk, and cotton pink and scarlet; -- called also Spanish red, China lake, and carthamin.
(c)
An orange-red dyestuff prepared from certain nitro compounds of creosol, and used as a substitute for the safflower dye.
© Webster 1913.