dogwood
dogwood Lexical Profile
dogwood Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A tree or shrub of the genus Cornus, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, widely cultivated for its ornamental springtime flowers that feature large, petal-like bracts.
"In early spring, the blooming dogwood adds a stunning display of white and pink to the forest understory."
The dense, hard wood of the dogwood tree, historically valued for crafting small objects subjected to intense wear, such as loom shuttles, golf club heads, and tool handles.
"The artisan carved a replacement chisel handle out of dogwood because of the material's incredible resistance to splitting."
• Rhymes for dogwood
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'dogtree' or 'dogwood'. The name may have originated from 'dagwood' (as its hard wood was used to make 'dags', meaning skewers or arrows), or because its bitter berries were considered unfit for a dog.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.