Madeira1
(məˈdɪəra)
Also 6–8 Madera.
[a. Pg. Madeira; the island was so called because formerly thickly wooded (Pg. madeira = Sp. madera wood timber:—L. māteria: see matter n.).]
1. The name of an island situated in the Atlantic Ocean, about 400 miles from the N. W. coast of Africa. Used attrib. in the designations of various things produced in or connected with the island, as Madeira lace, Madeira laurel, Madeira orchis, Madeira pear, Madeira tea, Madeira work (see quots.); Madeira chair, a kind of wicker or cane chair; Madeira mahogany, Canary wood, the wood of Persea (formerly Laurus) indica; Madeira nut U.S. [perh. belongs to 2 c], the common European walnut, esp. the ‘Titmouse’ or thin-shelled variety (Juglans regia tenera); Madeira wine = sense 2; Madeira wood (see quot.; cf. madeira2).
| 1889 Rider Haggard K. Solomon's Mines 16 Sir Henry was sitting opposite to me in a *Madeira chair. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, *Madeira lace. The lace made by the natives of Madeira is not a native production... The laces made are Maltese, Torchon, and a coarse description of Mechlin. |
| 1796 Nemnich Polygl. Lex. Nat. Hist. v. 820 *Madeira laurel, Laurus foetens. |
| Ibid. 955 *Madeira mahogany, Laurus indica. 1829 Loudon Encycl. Plants 334 Laurus indica..The wood..is called Vigniatico in the island of Madeira, and is probably what is imported into England under the name of Madeira mahogany. 1866 Treas. Bot., Mahogany, Madeira, Persea indica. |
| 1845–50 A. H. Lincoln Lect. Bot. App. 116 Juglans regia (*madeira nut). |
| 1882 Garden 11 Feb. 89/2 The *Madeira Orchis (O. foliosa) is remarkable..for the readiness with which it doubles its bulb. |
| 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. June (1679) 18 Pears, The Maudlin (first ripe), *Madera, Green-Royal [etc.]. |
| 1892 Walsh Tea 33 Regular shipments of ‘*Madeira tea’ are now being made to the London market. |
| 1687 Congreve Old Bach. iv. ix, Why this same *Madera-wine has made me as light as a grasshopper. 1705 Lond. Gaz. No. 4131/4, 69 Pipes and 9 Hogsheads of White Madera Wines, 13 Hogsheads of Red Ditto. 1839 Penny Cycl. XIV. 262/1 The importation of Madeira wine into England in 1833 was 301,057 gallons. |
| 1796 Nemnich Polygl. Lex. Nat. Hist. v. 820 *Madeira wood, Cedrela odorata. |
| 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, *Madeira work. This is white Embroidery upon fine linen, or cambric..made by the nuns in Madeira. |
2. a. (Also
Madeira wine: see 1.) A white wine produced in the island of Madeira.
It is of a deep amber tint, full body, and some sweetness, resembling a well-matured full-bodied brown sherry.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. ii. 128 A Cup of Madera, and a cold Capons legge. 1612 Sc. Bk. of Rates in Halyburton's Ledger (1867) 335 Sackes Canareis Malagas Maderais..Teynts and Allacants. 1708 S. Sewall Diary 12 Apr., We drank a Bottle of Madera together. 1787 M. Cutler in Life, etc. (1888) I. 235 You cannot please him more than by praising his Madeira. 1823 Byron Juan xiii. v, But then they have their claret and Madeira. 1861 D. Cook P. Foster's D. viii, I think I could eat a chop..and a glass of Madeira. |
b. with various qualifying prefixes.
East Indian madeira was madeira which had been sent on a sea voyage to the East Indies, to improve its quality.
| 1723 Lond. Gaz. No. 6173/3 There will be no other Malmsey Madera Wine landed this Year. 31 Pipes..of..White Vidonia Madera Wine. 1819 Shelley Peter Bell the Third iv. xviii. 5 Venison,..And best East Indian madeira. |
c. Comb., as
Madeira glass;
Madeira-drinking adj.;
Madeira cake, a kind of sponge-cake;
Madeira sauce, a rich brown sauce made with Madeira and served with braised or roast meats.
| 1800 Asiat. Ann. Reg., Chron. 123/2 A tea spoonful of the alkali in a Madeira glass half filled with water. 1845 E. Acton Mod. Cookery 515 A good Madeira Cake. 1872 R. C. Smith Madeira & its Associations, The lively Frenchman..dwells upon the virtues of delicious Madeira. He offers at once to despatch his grandfather in Madeira sauce. A la Sauce Madère on mangerait son grandpère. 1877 Cassell's Dict. Cookery 57/1 Beef, Lumber, in Madeira Sauce..Prepare a sauce with brown stock or broth, some butter, flour, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper, and a glass of Madeira. 1902 Munsey's Mag. XXVI. 522/1 The interruptions..from the Madeira-drinking men of letters overhead. 1946 G. Millar Horned Pigeon xix. 305 She followed this with kidneys and a Madeira sauce. 1956 L. Diat French Cooking for Home 43 Boiling spoils the flavour of Madeira Sauce. |