saffroning

Verb

saffron (third-person singular simple present saffrons, present participle saffroning, simple past and past participle saffroned)

1. To add saffron to (a food), for taste, colour etc.
   • saffroned water, saffroned rice
2. To give a saffron colour to (something).
   • My dreadful thoughts been drawen vpon my face,
     In blotted lines with ages iron pen,
     The lothlie morpheu saffroned the place,
     Where beuties damaske daz’d the eies of men.1593, Michael Drayton, Idea the Shepheards Garland, London: Thomas Woodcocke, Second Eglog, page 6
   1. To dye (a fabric, garment, etc.) with a saffron-based dye.
      • The other part Northern, & ful of mountaines, a very rude and homely kinde of people doth inhabite, which are called the redshankes or wilde Scottes. They be clothed with a mantel and shyrte saffroned, after the Irishe manner, going bare legged to the knée.1580, John Stow, “A briefe Description of Englande, Scotlande, Wales, and Cornwall”, in The Chronicles of England, London: Ralph Newberie, page 9
   2. To colour (a metal or wooden surface) with a gilding product containing saffron.
      • His horse was harnished with leaden chaines, hauing the out-side guilt, or at least saffrond in stead of guilt, to decypher a holie or golden pretence of a couetous purpose […]1594, Thomas Nashe, The Unfortunate Traveller, London: C. Burby
3. (figuratively) To embellish.
   • Saffroning the rest of the account are several other regionalisms: agin for against, hit for the expletive it, knowed as a preterite, and no use to say not bin' (a fascinating doubling of the negative).1970, Robert Randolph Turner, Tennessee Legends: An Analysis in Terms of Motifs, Structure, and Style

See all 11 meanings of saffron