boxwood

American  

[boks-wood] / ˈbɒksˌwʊd /

noun

1. the hard, fine-grained, compact wood of the box shrub or tree, used for wood-engravers' blocks, musical instruments, etc.

2. the tree or shrub itself.

---

boxwood British  

/ ˈbɒksˌwʊd /

noun

1. the hard close-grained yellow wood of the box tree, used to make tool handles, small turned or carved articles, etc

2. the box tree

---

Etymology

Origin of boxwood

First recorded in 1645–55; box ³ + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Stewart recommended cactus, succulents and an evergreen shrub called an African boxwood.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2025

Of a photo in which a face pokes through a boxwood hedge, she pointed out, “That’s one of the goofy ones.”

From New York Times • Jan. 24, 2024

At its former headquarters in eastern Pennsylvania, Air Products had a neatly manicured lawn and boxwood hedges.

From New York Times • Jul. 4, 2023

The boxwood is planted in a row, and I am hoping to be able to save the others from dying.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 10, 2023

Old T.R. sprang up from under Granny’s boxwood, where he’d been cooling off, and ran ahead of us to chase Granny’s dominecker hens out of the path.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns