Main Entry:

mad·der

Pronunciation:

\ˈma-dər\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English mædere; akin to Old High German matara madder

Date:

before 12th century

1: a Eurasian herb (Rubia tinctorum of the family Rubiaceae, the madder family) with whorled leaves and small yellowish panicled flowers succeeded by dark berries ; broadly : any of several related herbs (genus Rubia)2 a: the root of the Eurasian madder used formerly in dyeing ; also : an alizarin dye prepared from it b: a moderate to strong red

[madder illustration]