A word of mysterious Caribbean origin that became synonymous with wealth — 18th-century Britain fought wars partly for control of mahogany forests.
A hard reddish-brown tropical wood prized for fine furniture, or the tropical American tree that yields it.
Origin uncertain, possibly from an indigenous Caribbean language, perhaps Arawakan or another language of the West Indies Key roots: mahogani (Caribbean indigenous (uncertain): "tropical hardwood tree").
Mahogany was so valuable in the 18th century that the British fought wars partly to control mahogany-producing territories. The wood's popularity was cemented by Thomas Chippendale, whose iconic furniture designs specifically called for mahogany — making it the status symbol of Georgian England.