fern

fern · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A flowerless plant with feathery fronds that reproduces by spores rather than seeds.

  2. 2.

    A plant of the class Polypodiopsida, typically having divided leaves and preferring moist, shaded habitats.

Forms

plural: ferns

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    fern bar — A type of upscale casual restaurant popular in the 1970s-80s, decorated with ferns
  • •
    tree fern — A large fern with a trunk-like stem
  • •
    maidenhair fern — A delicate fern with fan-shaped leaflets

Related words

See also: bracken, frond, plant
Synonyms: bracken, frond plant

Etymology

From Old English fearn, from Proto-Germanic farną ("fern"), from Proto-Indo-European pornóm ("feather, wing, leaf"). Cognate with German Farn and Dutch varen.