ˈsaˌswu̇d noun
or sas·sy·wood ˈsasēˌwu̇d
Etymology: sasswood alteration of sassywood; sassywood from sassy (probably of African origin) + wood
: a western African tree ( Erythrophloeum guineense ) of the family Leguminosae having a poisonous bark and yielding a hard strong insect-resistant wood