ebony

[eb-uh-nee]

noun

plural

ebonies 

1. a hard, heavy, durable wood, most highly prized when black, from various tropical trees of the genus Diospyros, as D. ebenum of southern India and Sri Lanka, used for cabinetwork, ornamental objects, etc.

2. any tree yielding such wood.

3. any of various similar woods or trees.

4. a deep, lustrous black.

adjective

1. Also made of ebony.

2. of a deep, lustrous black.

ebony

/ ˈɛbənɪ /

noun

1. any of various tropical and subtropical trees of the genus Diospyros, esp D. ebenum of S India, that have hard dark wood: family Ebenaceae See also persimmon

2. the wood of such a tree, much used for cabinetwork

3. 1. a black colour, sometimes with a dark olive tinge

   2. ( as adjective )

      an ebony skin

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebony¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; earlier hebeny; ebon; -y perhaps after ivory

Word History and Origins

Origin of ebony¹

C16 hebeny , from Late Latin ebeninus from Greek ebeninos, from ebenos ebony, of Egyptian origin

Example Sentences

Christie's had dubbed the box, decorated with ebony, as "the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction" and it had been expected to fetch 2-3 million euros.

Read more on Barron's

The county’s most common variety is the California ebony tarantula, or Aphonopelma eutylenum, which can range from light beige to their namesake color.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

McCamish said some of the best-known locations for observing the California ebony tarantula include:

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Well-known trees such as magnolias are among the most threatened, with oaks, maple and ebonies also at risk.

Read more on BBC

The title Black Rod comes from the ebony staff, topped with a golden lion, carried by the holder.

Read more on BBC