sasswood

[sas-woo d] /ˈsæsˌwʊd/
noun
1.
a tropical African tree, Erythrophleum suavolens, of the legume family, having a poisonous bark and hard, durable wood.
Also called sassy bark, sassywood
[sas-ee-woo d] /ˈsæs iˌwʊd/ (Show IPA).
Origin
1895-1900; sass(y)2 + wood1
British Dictionary definitions for sasswood

sassy2

/ˈsæsɪ/
noun
1.
a W African leguminous tree, Erythrophleum guineense, with poisonous bark (sassy bark) and hard strong wood
2.
the bark or wood of this tree or the alkaloid derived from them, which is sometimes used in medicine
Word Origin
C19: probably from a language of the Kwa family: compare Twi sese plane tree, Ewe sesewu a kind of timber tree