1. A North American tree (Carpinus caroliniana) with smooth gray bark and hard, dense wood, also called ironwood or American hornbeam.
Usage: regional; also called hornbeam or ironwood

Examples

• The musclewood tree grows well in moist woodlands throughout the eastern United States.
• Musclewood is prized for its extremely hard and dense wood, which resists splitting.
• The smooth, muscular appearance of the trunk is how musclewood got its common name.
• Woodworkers sometimes use musclewood for tool handles and other items requiring durability.