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

The group settled into uncomfortable straight-backed chairs around a small mahogany table, staring at framed posters of Barbados’ windmills and sugar cane fields.

From ProPublica

Such steering wheels were used in Ferraris between 1959 and 1965, and this full-scale repro—made of mahogany and polished aluminum—features the iconic prancing horse in the center.

From Washington Blade

Valuable timber trees, like mahogany, can serve as savings accounts, harvested when coffee profits aren’t enough.

From Science News

I’ve ordered this sandwich three times now, and each time, the beef has sported a different shade of red, from mahogany to crimson.

From Washington Post

Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Michael Bennet and Kirsten Gillibrand all chased the 2020 Democratic nomination and still have mahogany desks at the Capitol.

From Time

He then referenced the film Anchorman: “I personally have many leather-bound books, and my house smells of rich mahogany.”

From The Daily Beast

The floors were softened by cork tiles, the walls by Philippine mahogany paneling.

From The Daily Beast

Here, table, highboy chairs, and screen—mahogany, cherry, teak—looked nervous and disproportioned.

From The Daily Beast

Nope, he has to be seen landing his chopper on the South Lawn, propping his leather loafers on his mahogany desk in the Oval.

From The Daily Beast

Mike Lennon and I were two of a dozen speakers who stood next to the mahogany casket.

From The Daily Beast

She opened the door of a square room with large roses on the white wall-paper, and fine old mahogany furniture.

From Project Gutenberg

The woods, however, are again pretty thick, and some inferior mahogany among it is used for furniture.

From Project Gutenberg

You may know it by all these signs of mahogany furniture, and leather upholstery, and waiters of reverential deportment.

From Project Gutenberg

It was built at Chatham, from the design of Mr. Oliver Lang, of mahogany and on the diagonal principle.

From Project Gutenberg

A magnificent mahogany tree, whose luxuriant branches overshadowed the whole clearing, stood nearly in the centre.

From Project Gutenberg