ETYM So named from skewers (dags) being made of it. Dr. Prior. Related to Dag, and Dagger.
1. A tree of shrub of the genus Cornus often having showy flower-like bracts; SYN. dogwood tree, cornel.
2. Hard tough wood of any dogwood of the genus Cornus; resemble boxwood.
Any of a genus Cornus of trees and shrubs of the dogwood family (Cornaceae), native to temperate regions of North America and Eurasia. The flowering dogwood Cornus florida of the E US is often cultivated as an ornamental for its beautiful blooms consisting of clusters of small greenish flowers surrounded by four large white or pink petal-like bracts.
Heads of small white flowers, each with four petals joined as a tube, are produced in midsummer, followed by black berries. The dogwood is characteristic of lime soils in the S of England, and is found over much of S Europe. Various other species of dogwood are planted in gardens.