Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Mahogany tree

Ma-hog′a-ny

,

Ma-hog′a-ny treeˊ

,
Noun.
[From the South American name.]
1.
(Bot.)
A large tree of the genus
Swietenia
(
Swietenia Mahogoni
), found in tropical America.
☞ Several other trees, with wood more or less like mahogany, are called by this name; as, African mahogany (
Khaya Senegalensis
), Australian mahogany (
Eucalyptus marginatus
), Bastard mahogany (
Batonia apetala
of the West Indies), Indian mahogany (
Cedrela Toona
of Bengal, and trees of the genera
Soymida
and
Chukrassia
), Madeira mahogany (
Persea Indica
), Mountain mahogany, the black or cherry birch (
Betula lenta
), also the several species of
Cercocarpus
of California and the Rocky Mountains.
2.
The wood of the
Swietenia Mahogoni
. It is of a reddish brown color, beautifully veined, very hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. It is used in the manufacture of furniture.
3.
A table made of mahogany wood.
[Colloq.]
To be under the mahogany
,
to be so drunk as to have fallen under the table.
[Eng.]
To put one’s legs under some one's mahogany
,
to dine with him.
[Slang]