crocus
UK[ˈkrəʊkəs]US[ˈkroʊkəs]
n
A small plant that produces white, yellow, or purple flowers in early spring.
Etymology
The word 'crocus' entered English in the late Middle English period, borrowed directly from Latin. The Latin term was itself a borrowing from the Greek 'krokos', which referred to both the plant and the valuable yellow spice, saffron, derived from its stigmas. The Greek word is thought to be of Semitic origin, likely from an Akkadian or Arabic source, tracing back to the ancient trade of this precious commodity. Thus, the word's journey mirrors the historical spread of the plant and its prized product from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Western world.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword from Latin, which borrowed it from Greek. It is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in modern English.
Examples
The first crocuses pushing through the snow are a welcome sign of spring.
She planted a cluster of purple crocuses along the garden path.
Saffron is harvested from the delicate stigmas of the crocus flower.