mahogany
UK[məˈhɒɡəni]US[məˈhɑːɡəni]
n
A type of hard, reddish-brown wood from a tropical American tree, valued for making furniture.
n
The tropical tree that produces this wood.
n
A dark reddish-brown color.
Etymology
The word 'mahogany' entered English in the late 17th century, but its precise origin is obscured by the colonial trade routes of the Atlantic. It is believed to stem from a word in a now-extinct Arawakan language of the West Indies, possibly Taíno, though the exact form is lost. The term was adopted by Spanish as 'mahogani' or 'caoba' and subsequently borrowed into English, referring specifically to the valuable timber from trees of the genus Swietenia. Over time, its meaning expanded from denoting the wood itself to also describe the tree species and the characteristic rich, reddish-brown color of the finished lumber.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted into English as a single, unanalyzable unit. Its components are not productive morphemes within the English language system.
Examples
The antique desk was crafted from solid mahogany.
Several mature mahoganies were felled in the sustainable forestry operation.
She painted the front door a deep mahogany.