Definition of "saffranine" []

• One of a class of dyes made by oxidizing a mixture of a paraphenylenediamine derivative and a monamine. The saffranines form metallic-green crystals and dye fabrics orange, red, or violet. The simplest, phenosaffranine, C18H15-N4Cl, is made from paraphenylenediamine and aniline. Tolusaffranine, C21H21N4Cl, is made from paratoluylenediamine and toluidine. Also safranine. (noun)

The Century Dictionary (Public Domain)

• "The fourth group comprises saffranine, azo-dinaphthyldiamine, rosolic acid, coralline, pure eosine and cosine modified by a salt of lead, coccina, artificial ponceau, and red-wood."