[Fr., from Heb.] A kind of wood, usually black, hard, and heavy, which can take on a fine polish. The finest is the heart wood of a tree found in Mauritius. Other trees in Ceylon and the East Indies also yield ebony. A leguminous tree in the West Indies yields green ebony. It is used for ornamental cabinet work, mosaic, flutes, knife handles, pianoforte keys, etc. Most of the furniture called ebony is made of cherry-wood dyed black.