Of, pertaining to, or in the region of, the saphenous veins; as, the saphenous nerves; the saphenous opening, an opening in the broad fascia of the thigh through which the internal saphenous vein passes
[ s&-'fE-n&s, 'sa-f& ] (adjective.) 1840. From Arabic صافن (ṣāfin, “the saphenous veins of the leg”), from Ancient Greek σαφηνής (“plain, visible”), from σα- an intensive prefix + φαίνεσθαι (“to show, appear”).