dogwood Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a tree of shrub of the genus Cornus often having showy bracts resembling flowers
    dogwood tree; cornel.
  2. noun hard tough wood of any dogwood of the genus Cornus; resembles boxwood

WordNet

Dog"wood` noun
Etymology
So named from skewers (dags) being made of it. Dr. Prior. See Dag, and Dagger.
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) The Cornus, a genus of large shrubs or small trees, the wood of which is exceedingly hard, and serviceable for many purposes. ✍ There are several species, one of which, Cornus mascula, called also cornelian cherry, bears a red acid berry. C. florida is the flowering dogwood, a small American tree with very showy blossoms.

Webster 1913