madder noun, verb, & adjective. ['madǝ]
[Old English mædere, corresp. to Old High German matara, Old Norse maðra in place-names (Swedish madra, Norwegian modra, maure), obscurely rel. to synon. West Frisian miede, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch mēde (Dutch mede, mee).]
A. noun.
1. A climbing plant, Rubia tinctorum (family Rubiaceae), with rough stems, rough whorled leaves, and panicles of small yellowish flowers, formerly cultivated for the reddish-purple dye obtained from the root. Also (with specifying word), any of several related plants. OE.
field madder: see FIELD noun. Indian madder a dye-plant of the Indian subcontinent, Rubia cordifolia.

2. The root of Rubia tinctorum, employed medicinally or as a source of colouring matter; the dyestuff or pigment prepared from this. ME.

3. A reddish-purple colour, esp. one produced by madder dyes or pigments. L19.
rose madder: see ROSE noun. Rubens madder: see RUBENS 2b.
b. verb trans. Treat or dye with madder. LME.
C. adjective. Of the colour produced by madder dyes; reddish-purple. M19.
madder brown, madder red, etc.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲