from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Ebony \Eb"on*y\, n.; pl. {Ebonies}. [F. ['e]b[`e]ne, L. ebenus,
fr. Gr. ?; prob. of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. hobn[imac]m, pl.
Cf. {Ebon}.]
A hard, heavy, and durable wood, which admits of a fine
polish or gloss. The usual color is black, but it also occurs
red or green.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The finest black ebony is the heartwood of {Diospyros
reticulata}, of the Mauritius. Other species of the
same genus ({D. Ebenum}, {Melanoxylon}, etc.), furnish
the ebony of the East Indies and Ceylon. The West
Indian green ebony is from a leguminous tree ({Brya
Ebenus}), and from the {Exc[ae]caria glandulosa}.
[1913 Webster]