madder 1
/mad"euhr/ , n.
1. any plant of the genus Rubia, esp. the climbing R. tinctorum, of Europe, having open clusters of small, yellowish flowers. Cf. madder family .
2. the root of this plant, formerly used in dyeing.
3. the dye or coloring matter itself.
4. a color produced by such a dye.
[ bef. 1000; ME mad ( d ) er, OE maed ( e ) re; c. ON mathra, OHG matara ]
madder 2
/mad"euhr/ , adj.
comparative of mad .