madeira Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a Brazilian river; tributary of the Amazon River
    Madeira River.
  2. noun an island in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa; the largest of the Madeira Islands
  3. noun an amber dessert wine from the Madeira Islands

WordNet

Ma*dei"ra noun
Etymology
Pg., the Island Madeira, properly, wood, fr. L. materia stuff, wood. The island was so called because well wooded. See Matter.
Definitions
  1. A rich wine made on the Island of Madeira.
    A cup of Madeira, and a cold capon's leg. Shak.

Webster 1913