The decorative timber of the South American tree Brosimum guianense (family Moraceae), marked with black spots likened to letters or hieroglyphics; also called snakewood.
Origin
Mid 17th century.
Definition of letterwood in US English:
letterwood
noun
The decorative timber of the South American tree Brosimum guianense (family Moraceae), marked with black spots likened to letters or hieroglyphics; also called snakewood.