amadou

[ am-uh-doo ]

noun

1. a spongy substance prepared from fungi, Polyporus ( Fomes ) fomentarius and allied species, growing on trees, used as tinder and in surgery.

amadou

/ ˈæməˌduː /

noun

1. a spongy substance made from certain fungi, such as Polyporus (or Fomes ) fomentarius and related species, used as tinder to light fires, in medicine to stop bleeding, and, esp formerly, by anglers to dry off dry flies between casts

Word History and Origins

Origin of amadou¹

1805–15; < French, Middle French, apparently noun derivative of amadouer to coax, influence by flattery. verbal derivative of Provençal, Old Provençal amadou ( r ) lover < Latin amātōr- , stem of amātor ( amateur ); name is usually explained by the conventional association between love and highly combustible substances

Word History and Origins

Origin of amadou¹

C18: from French, from Provençal: lover, from Latin amātor, from amāre to love; so called because it readily ignites

Example Sentences

The likes of Ezri Konsa and Amadou Onana are doubts, and Villa have got next week's Champions League tie against Bologna to think about too.

From BBC

"Most of our avenues, boulevards and streets... bear names that are simply reminders of the suffering and bullying our people endured during the ordeal of colonisation," said junta spokesman Maj Col Abdramane Amadou.

From BBC

And when Senegal’s President Macky Sall lined up his Prime Minister Amadou Ba as his successor, he was decisively rebuffed by the voters who opted instead for the young reformist opponent Bassirou Diomaye Faye.

From BBC

They signed eight players during the summer for a total of around £40m, while bringing in approximately £70m in sales, which includes £50m for midfielder Amadou Onana from Aston Villa.

From BBC

Watkins was perfectly placed to score with a diving header when Amadou Onana's shot bounced out after deflecting on to the bar off Gabriel.

From BBC