Dog″wood′ (–wo͝od′), 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.
☞ 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.
Dogwood tree. (a) The dogwood or Cornus. (b) A papilionaceous tree (Piscidia erythrina) growing in Jamaica. It has narcotic properties; — called also Jamaica dogwood.