'alazor' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'al-ʿaṣfar', where 'al-' meant 'the' and 'ʿaṣfar' meant 'yellow'.

'al-ʿaṣfar' transformed into the Spanish word 'alazor', and eventually became the modern English word 'alazor'.

Initially, it meant 'yellow', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'safflower'.