madrepore

noun

mad·​re·​pore ˈma-drə-ˌpȯr 

: any of various stony reef-building corals (order Madreporaria) of tropical seas that assume a variety of branching, encrusting, or massive forms

madreporian

ˌma-drə-ˈpȯr-ē-ən 

adjective or noun

madreporic

ˌma-drə-ˈpȯr-ik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

French madrépore, from Italian madrepora, from madre mother (from Latin mater) + poro pore (from Latin porus) — more at mother

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above