A tree or shrub with hard wood, small flowers in tight clusters, and often brightly colored berries that appear in autumn.
From 'dog' (possibly meaning worthless or inferior quality, though origin is debated) and 'wood' (the material). The wood was historically used for skewers and tool handles, not premium furniture.
The dogwood's 'flowers' aren't actually flowers—those showy pink or white parts are colored leaves (bracts), while the real flowers are tiny and clustered in the center. Plus, the wood is so hard it was perfect for making arrows and wooden nails, which made it valuable despite its 'dog' name.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.