dogwood

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

dogwood
    n 1: a tree of shrub of the genus Cornus often having showy
         bracts resembling flowers [syn: {dogwood}, {dogwood tree},
         {cornel}]
    2: hard tough wood of any dogwood of the genus Cornus; resembles
       boxwood

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Dogwood \Dog"wood`\ (-w[oo^]d`), n. [So named from skewers
   (dags) being made of it. --Dr. Prior. See {Dag}, and
   {Dagger}.] (Bot.)
   The {Cornus}, a genus of large shrubs or small trees, the
   wood of which is exceedingly hard, and serviceable for many
   purposes.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: There are several species, one of which, {Cornus
         mascula}, called also {cornelian cherry}, bears a red
         acid berry. {Cornus florida} is the flowering dogwood,
         a small American tree with very showy blossoms.
         [1913 Webster]

   {Dogwood tree}.
   (a) The dogwood or {Cornus}.
   (b) A papilionaceous tree ({Piscidia erythrina}) growing in
       Jamaica. It has narcotic properties; -- called also
       {Jamaica dogwood}.
       [1913 Webster]