rosewood
rosewood Lexical Profile
rosewood Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Any of several hard, dark-reddish or purplish fragrant woods obtained from various tropical trees, highly valued in fine cabinetmaking, flooring, and the construction of musical instruments.
"The luthier carefully selected a beautiful piece of Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides of the acoustic guitar."
Any of the tropical leguminous trees, particularly those of the genus Dalbergia native to places like Brazil, India, and Madagascar, that yield a fragrant, hard, and darkly veined wood.
"Due to extensive and often illegal logging, many species of rosewood are now strictly protected under international environmental treaties."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the mid-17th century, formed as a compound of 'rose' and 'wood'. It was named for the distinct, sweet, rose-like fragrance emitted by the wood of some of these species when freshly cut.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.