Madder
WordNet
noun
(1) Eurasian herb having small yellow flowers and red roots formerly an important source of the dye alizarin
verb
(2) Color a moderate to strong red
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
mæddre, mædre, from Germanic, perhaps from an Indo-European base meaning ‘blue’. Cognate with Swedish madra.
Noun
- A herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctorum, native to Asia, cultivated for a red-purple dye obtained from the root.
- The root of the plant, used as a medicine or a dye.
- A dye made from the plant.
- A deep reddish purple colour, like that of the dye.