Madrepore,
n. [F.
madrepore, perh. fr.
madré 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.
madrépore is rather from It.
madrepora, and this perh. fr. It.
madre mother (see
Mother) + Gr. a soft stone.].