Snakewood

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Snakewood \Snake"wood`\, n. (Bot.)
     (a) An East Indian climbing plant ({Strychnos colubrina})
         having a bitter taste, and supposed to be a remedy for
         the bite of the hooded serpent.
     (b) An East Indian climbing shrub ({Ophioxylon serpentinum})
         which has the roots and stems twisted so as to resemble


         serpents.
     (c) Same as {Trumpetwood}.
     (d) A tropical American shrub ({Plumieria rubra}) which has
         very fragrant red blossoms.
     (e) Same as {Letterwood}.
         [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Letterwood \Let"ter*wood`\ (-w[oo^]d`), n. (Bot.)
     The beautiful and highly elastic wood of a tree of the genus
     {Brosimum} ({Brosimum Aubletii}), found in Guiana; -- so
     called from black spots in it which bear some resemblance to
     hieroglyphics; also called {snakewood}, and {leopardwood}. It
     is much used for bows and for walking sticks.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Trumpetwood \Trump"et*wood`\, n. (Bot.)
     A tropical American tree ({Cecropia peltata}) of the
     Breadfruit family, having hollow stems, which are used for
     wind instruments; -- called also {snakewood}, and {trumpet
     tree}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  snakewood
       n : East Indian climbing shrub with twisted limbs and roots
           resembling serpents [syn: {Rauwolfia serpentina}]