mahogany etymology

Etymology:

  • From the Spanish word "caoba," which is ultimately derived from the Indigenous Taíno language of the Caribbean.

Meaning and Origin:

  • "Mahogany" refers to the wood of various tropical hardwood trees native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
  • The Taíno people originally used the name "caoba" for the wood of the West Indian mahogany tree (Swietenia mahagoni).
  • When Spanish explorers arrived in the Caribbean in the 15th and 16th centuries, they adopted the Taíno word and began trading the wood to Europe.
  • In the 18th and 19th centuries, mahogany became a highly sought-after wood for furniture making due to its rich reddish-brown color and durability.
  • The term "mahogany" is used to refer to the wood of several species within the genus Swietenia, including:
    • Swietenia mahagoni (West Indian mahogany)
    • Swietenia macrophylla (Bigleaf mahogany)
    • Swietenia humilis (Pacific Coast mahogany)

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