Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Dogwood \Dog"wood`\ (-w[oo^]d`), 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.

   Note: There are several species, one of which, {Cornus
         mascula}, called also {cornelian cherry}, bears a red
         acid berry. {C. florida} is the flowering dogwood, a
         small American tree with very showy blossoms.

   {Dogwood tree}.
   (a) The dogwood or {Cornus}.
   (b) A papilionaceous tree ({Piscidia erythrina}) growing in
       Jamaica. It has narcotic properties; -- called also
       {Jamaica dogwood}.

Source : WordNet®

dogwood tree
     n : a tree of shrub of the genus Cornus often having showy
         bracts resembling flowers [syn: {dogwood}, {cornel}]