madder
Language: English
Part of speech: noun
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈmæd.ə(ɹ)/
ipa: [ˈmad.ə(ɹ)]
ipa: /ˈmæd.ɚ/
ipa: [ˈmæɾ.ɚ]
rhymes: -ædə(ɹ)
Forms: form: madders
Etymology: From Middle English mader, madere, mædere, from Old English mædere, mæddre, mædre, from Proto-Germanic *madarǭ (compare Swedish madra, Old Norse / Icelandic maðra), from Proto-Indo-European *modʰro-, cognate with Proto-Slavic *modrъ (“blue”), and compare Irish madar (“madder”), Latvian madara (“madder”).
Senses: examples: text: Madder (Rubia tinctorum). — This plant has a perennial root and an annual stalk. It is cultivated for the roots, which, after being dried and ground, are employed in considerable quantities in dying a fine red colour, and, likewise, as a first tint for several other shades. It is principally cultivated in Holland, the province of Zealand being almost entirely covered with it; from whence it is exported to every part of Europe and America, yielding almost incalculable profits. The imports of this article for the use of our manufactories is stated to amount in value to more than two millions of dollars annually. Our soil and climate are found to be well adapted to its culture, and some successful experiments have been made in raising it in the counties of Madison and Otsego [in New York State]. Madder does best in a deep rich sand-loam, moist but not wet. It requires three summers to come to perfection; and as the roots strike deep, the ground should be ploughed and mellowed to the depth of two and a half or three feet for its reception. Miller says it should be planted with a dibble (it is propagated by offsets from the roots), in rows from two to three feet apart; while Beechstein says they should be planted only six inches asunder.
ref: 1841, Jesse Buel, The Farmers' Instructor. Consisting of Essays, Practical Directions, and Hints for the Management of the Farm and the Garden. Originally Published in the Cultivator; Selected and Revised for the School District Library, volume 1, Harper and Brothers, page 213:
glosses: A herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctorum, native to Asia, cultivated for a red-purple dye (alizarin) obtained from the root.
glosses: The root of the plant, used as a medicine or a dye.
examples: text: Their armour was stained with madder, in such wise that they seemed bathed in blood.
ref: 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 19:
glosses: A dye made from the plant.
examples: text: Her big head has coloured to a dim and dreadful madder.
ref: 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan:
glosses: A deep reddish colour, like that of the dye.
Synonyms: sense: Rubia tinctorum
word: common madder
sense: Rubia tinctorum
word: dyer's madder
Derived terms: taxonomic: Sherardia arvensis
word: blue field madder
word: brown madder
word: capucine madder
taxonomic: Rubia tinctorum
word: common madder
word: crimson madder
taxonomic: Rubia tinctorum
word: dyer's madder
taxonomic: Sherardia arvensis
word: field madder
word: flowers of madder
taxonomic: Oldenlandia umbellata
word: Indian madder
word: madder crimson
word: madder lake
word: madder orange
word: madder rose
word: madder scarlet
word: madderwort
word: maddery
word: madder yellow
word: orange madder
word: pink madder
word: Rembrandt's madder
word: rose madder
word: Rubens' madder
word: scarlet madder
taxonomic: Galium mollugo
word: white madder
taxonomic: Rubia peregrina
word: wild madder