a spongy substance prepared from fungi, Polyporus (Fomes) fomentarius and allied species, growing on trees, used as tinder and in surgery.
Origin: 1805–15; < F, MF, appar. n. deriv. of amadouer to coax, influence by flattery. v. deriv. of Pr, OPr amadou(r) lover < L amātōr-, s. of amātor (see amateur); name is usually explained by the conventional assoc. between love and highly combustible substances
[am-uh-doo] 
