Etymology Dictionary

MADREPORE,  the common coral.  (F.,—Ital.,—L. and Gk.)   Modern; not in Todd's Johnson.—F. madrépore, madrepore.—Ital. madrepora, explained in Meadows as 'a petrified plant.'   β. Of somewhat uncertain origin; but prob. the first part of the word is Ital. madre, mother, used in various compounds, as madre-selva (lit. mother-wood), honeysuckle, madre-bosco (lit. mother-bush), woodbine (Florio), madre perla, mother of pearl (Florio); from Lat. matrem, acc. of mater, mother; see Mother.   γ. The part -pora appears to be from the Gk. πῶρος, a light, friable stone, also a stalactite.   Hence madre-pore = mother-stone, a similar formation to madre perla (lit. mother-pearl).   ¶ If this be right, it has nothing to do with F. madré, spotted, nor with pore.   But it has certainly been understood as connected with the word pore, as shewn by the numerous similar scientific terms, such as catenipora, tubipora, dentipora, gemmipora, &c.; see the articles in Engl. Cycl. on Madrephylliœa and Madreporæa.   It does not follow that the supposed connection with pore was originally right; it only shews that this sense was substituted for that of the Gr. πῶρος.