‖n. [ Indian name. From Ahmedabad, a city from which it was imported to Europe. ] (Zool.) The strawberry finch, a small Indian song bird (Estrelda amandava), commonly caged and kept for fighting. The female is olive brown; the male, in summer, mostly crimson; -- called also red waxbill. [ Written also amaduvad and avadavat. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Sp. armada, L. as if armata (sc. classic fleet), fr. armatus, p. p. of armare. See Arm, v. t. Army. ] A fleet of armed ships; a squadron. Specifically, the Spanish fleet which was sent to assail England, a. d. 1558. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In periods of seven days; weekly. Lowell. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. hebdomadalis, LL. hebdomadarius: cf. F. hebdomadaire. ] Consisting of seven days, or occurring at intervals of seven days; weekly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ LL. hebdomadarius: cf. F. hebdomadier. ] (R. C. Ch.) A member of a chapter or convent, whose week it is to officiate in the choir, and perform other services, which, on extraordinary occasions, are performed by the superiors. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. Same as Jemidar. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. a. 1. Of or pertaining to Madagascar; as, Madagascan pepper. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of Madagascar; as, Madagascan soldiers.
Syn. -- Malagasy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A native or inhabitant of Madagascar. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pos>prop. n. An island in the Indian Ocean, about 240 miles off the southeast coast of Africa, governed as a single country, the Republic of Madagascar. It is the world's fourth-largest island, with a total area of 587, 040 sq km, with 4, 828 km of coastline. Once a French colony, it gained independence from France in 1960. The name of the government after independence was the Malagasy Republic. [ PJC ]

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1886, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997 in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The Population: is 15, 982, 563 (July 2001 est.) The highest point is Maromokotro, at 2, 876 m. Natural resources are: graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, and hydropower. CIA World Factbook [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) A small lemur having its tail barred with black.
Syn. -- ring-tailed lemur, Lemur catta. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) A twining woody vine (Stephanotis floribunda) of Madagascar having thick dark waxy evergreen leaves and clusters of large fragrant waxy white flowers along the stems; widely cultivated in warm regions.
Syn. -- waxflower, Stephanotis floribunda. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) A climber (Piper nigrum) having dark red berries (peppercorns) when fully ripe; found in South India and Sri Lanka; naturalized in North Burma and Assam.
Syn. -- pepper, common pepper, black pepper, white pepper, Madagascar pepper, Piper nigrum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) A commonly cultivated Old World woody herb (Vinca rosea) having large pinkish to red flowers.
Syn. -- periwinkle, rose periwinkle, Madagascar periwinkle, old maid, Cape periwinkle, red periwinkle, cayenne jasmine, Catharanthus roseus, Vinca rosea. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Bot.) A small shrubby tree (Flacourtia indica) of Madagascar cultivated in tropical regions as a hedge plant and for its deep red acid fruits resembling small plums.
Syn. -- governor's plum, governor plum, Madagascar plum, ramontchi, batoko palm, Flacourtia indica. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. large bamboo having thick-walled culms; native of China and perhaps Japan; widely brown elsewhere.
Syn. -- giant timber bamboo, ku-chiku, Phyllostachys bambusoides. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Madams, or Mesdames [ See Madame. ] 1. A gentlewoman; -- an appellation or courteous form of address given to a lady, especially an elderly or a married lady; -- much used in the address, at the beginning of a letter, to a woman. The corresponding word in addressing a man is Sir; often abbreviated ma'am when used as a term of address. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The woman who is in charge of a household. [ PJC ]

3. The woman who is in charge of a brothel. [ PJC ]

‖n.; pl. Mesdames [ F., fr. ma my (L. mea) + dame dame. See Dame, and cf. Madonna. ] My lady; -- a French title formerly given to ladies of quality; now, in France, given to all married women. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Mohammedanism; Islam. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. A Muslim. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Islamic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. trique-madame. Cf. Tripmadam. ] (Bot.) A name given to several species of stonecrop, used as ingredients of vermifuge medicines. See Stonecrop. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Ar. rama&dsdot_;ān, or ramazān, properly, the hot month. ] [ Written also Ramadhan, Ramadzan, and Rhamadan. ] 1. The ninth Mohammedan month. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The great annual fast of the Mohammedans, kept during daylight through the ninth month. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. See Ramadan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tripe-madame, trique-madame. ] (Bot.) Same as Prickmadam. [ 1913 Webster ]