Completing what DooplissForce started...
Drenched with sweat
SOAKED
He loosened his girdle
SASH
What's for dinner
STEAK
Oh my back!
SPINE
Take away the serpents, and you get
OAK (used for furniture), ASH (for timbers), TEAK (for planking), PINE (for firewood).
While these four woods are commonly used for these purposes I may be missing a clue as to why a specific wood would be used for a specific purpose (other than "that's the right wood for that job").