mahogany

[ muh-hog-uh-nee ]

noun

, plural ma·hog·a·nies.

1. any of several tropical American trees of the genus Swietenia, especially S. mahagoni and S. macrophylla, yielding hard, reddish-brown wood used for making furniture.
2. the wood itself.
3. any of various similar trees or their wood. Compare African mahogany, Philippine mahogany.
4. a reddish-brown color.

adjective

1. pertaining to or made of mahogany.
2. of the color mahogany.

mahogany

/ məˈhɒɡənɪ /

noun

1. any of various tropical American trees of the meliaceous genus Swietenia, esp S. mahagoni and S. macrophylla, valued for their hard reddish-brown wood
2. any of several trees with similar wood, such as African mahogany (genus Khaya ) and Philippine mahogany (genus Shorea )
3. 1. the wood of any of these trees See also acajou
   2. ( as modifier )

      a mahogany table

4. 1. a reddish-brown colour
   2. ( as modifier )

      mahogany skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of mahogany¹

First recorded in 1665–75; perhaps < some non-Carib language of the West Indies

Word History and Origins

Origin of mahogany¹

C17: origin obscure

Example Sentences

Then nine old guys looked down over that mahogany bench and said to those Jehovah's Witness children: You obey your parents.

From Salon

In a day and a half he can transform a waxy, light-brown football that’s fresh out of the box into a mahogany gem that feels like a perfectly worked-in baseball glove.

From Los Angeles Times

Oh, and a now-large toyon and mountain mahogany on either side to provide partial shade.

From Los Angeles Times

Brown didn’t enter those large mahogany Assembly doors in 1965 just to fit in.

From Los Angeles Times

The warm mahogany tones of the stringed instruments, that classic brass glow, made for a really nice color palette.

From Los Angeles Times