/am"euh dooh'/ , n.
a spongy substance prepared from fungi, Polyporus ( Fomes ) fomentarius and allied species, growing on trees, used as tinder and in surgery.
[ 1805-15; amadouer to coax, influence by flattery. v. deriv. of Pr, OPr amadou ( r ) lover amator -, s. of amator (see AMATEUR); name is usually explained by the conventional assoc. between love and highly combustible substances ]