MADDER

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English mædere; akin to Old High German matara ~ Date: before 12th century a Eurasian herb ( Rubia tinctorum of the family Rubiaceae, the ~ family) with whorled leaves and small yellowish panicled flowers succeeded by dark berries, 2. the root of the Eurasian ~ used formerly in dyeing, a moderate to strong red