Mad"re*pore (?), n. [F. madrepore, perh. fr. madr'e 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. madr'epore is rather from It. madrepora, and this perh. fr. It. madre mother (see Mother) + Gr. a soft stone.] Zool.
Any coral of the genus Madrepora; formerly, often applied to any stony coral.
© Webster 1913.