Cro"cus (kr?"k?s), n. [L., saffron, fr. Gr. ; cf. Heb. karkm, Ar. kurkum, Skr. kukuma.]
1. Bot.
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.
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.
© Webster 1913.