A dark, fragrant hardwood from tropical trees, prized for making musical instruments and fine furniture.
Named for its rose-like fragrance when freshly cut, from rose (Latin rosa) plus wood (Old English wudu). The term appeared in English in the 17th century as European craftsmen encountered these aromatic tropical timbers through colonial trade.
Rosewood's intoxicating scent comes from the same aromatic compounds found in actual roses, making it literally smell like its name suggests. The wood became so prized for musical instruments that some species are now endangered, leading to international trade restrictions.
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