Safranine \Saf"ra*nine\ (? or ?), n. [So called because used as a substitute for safranin.]

(Chem.) An orange-red nitrogenous dyestuff produced artificially by oxidizing certain aniline derivatives, and used in dyeing silk and wool; also, any one of the series of which safranine proper is the type.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)