Crocus
Pronunciation : Cro"cus (kr"ks)
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L., saffron, fr. Gr. kark, Ar. kurkum, Skr. ku.]
Definition : 1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms rising separately from the bulb or corm. C. vernus is one of the earliest of spring-blooming flowers; C. sativus produces the saffron, and blossoms in the autumn.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal calcined to a red or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of iron (Crocus of Mars or colcothar) thus produced from salts of irron, and used as a polishing powder. Crocus of Venus (Old Chem.), oxide of copper.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913