madras
UK[məˈdrɑːs]US[ˈmædrəs]
n
A lightweight cotton fabric with a checked, striped, or plain pattern.
n
A spicy dish of meat or vegetables cooked in a rich sauce, often associated with South Indian cuisine.
Etymology
The word 'madras' originates from the former name of the city now known as Chennai, located on the southeastern coast of India. It entered the English language in the 17th century as a toponym, first referring to the type of lightweight cotton cloth exported from that region. The culinary sense, for a spicy curry dish, developed later in the 20th century, also deriving from the association with the Madras region. Thus, the term's journey is one of geographical borrowing, where the name of a place became a common noun for its characteristic products.
Analysis
This word is a toponym, borrowed directly from the English name of the city Chennai in India. It does not consist of separable morphemes in English.
Examples
She wore a colorful madras skirt to the summer picnic.
This restaurant serves an excellent chicken madras with fragrant rice.
The traditional madras fabric is often used in patchwork and preppy fashion.