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®

Jamaica 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: {fish fuddle}, {Piscidia
         piscipula}, {Piscidia erythrina}]