(n)deciduous tree; celebrated for its large white or pink bracts and stunning autumn color that is followed by red berries, Syn.Cornus florida, eastern flowering dogwood
(n)small tree of West Indies and Florida having large odd-pinnate leaves and panicles of red-striped purple to white flowers followed by decorative curly winged seedpods; yields fish poisons, Syn.Piscidia erythrina, Piscidia piscipula, fish fuddle
(n)a rosid dicot family of the order Umbellales including: genera Aucuba, Cornus, Corokia, Curtisia, Griselinia, Helwingia, Syn.dogwood family, family Cornaceae
n. [ So named from skewers (dags) being made of it. Dr. Prior. See Dag, and Dagger. ] (Bot.) The Cornus, a genus of large shrubs or small trees, the wood of which is exceedingly hard, and serviceable for many purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ There are several species, one of which, Cornus mascula, called also cornelian cherry, bears a red acid berry. Cornus florida is the flowering dogwood, a small American tree with very showy blossoms. [ 1913 Webster ]
Dogwood tree. (a)The dogwood or Cornus.(b)A papilionaceous tree (Piscidia erythrina) growing in Jamaica. It has narcotic properties; -- called also Jamaica dogwood. [ 1913 Webster ]