| madrepore | <zoology> Any coral of the genus Madrepora; formerly, often applied to any stony coral. Origin: F. Madrepore, perh. Fr. Madre spotted, fr. OF. Madre, mazre, a kind of knotty wood with brown spots, fr. OHG. Masar a knot, grain, or vein in wood, a speck, G. Maser + pore (see Pore); or perh. F. Madrepore is rather from It. Madrepora, and this perh. Fr. It. Madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. A soft stone. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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