saffranine

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. 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.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. any of a class of chiefly red organic dyes