fern seed

American  

noun

1. the spores of ferns, formerly supposed to have the power to make persons invisible.

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fern seed British  

noun

1. the minute particles by which ferns reproduce themselves, formerly thought to be invisible. Possession of them was thought to make a person invisible

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Etymology

Origin of fern seed

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fern seed

John, I remember, always carried some fern seed in his trouser-pocket.

From Olivia in India by O. Douglas

So Shakespeare has it, too, in his play of "1 Henry IV.," act ii. scene 1: "We have the receipt of fern seed, we walk invisible."

From The South Isles of Aran by Oliver J. Burke

Whether they are three, or thretty, or a hunder, surpasses my knowledge; but they hae got the secret o’ the fern seed, and walk about invisible.

From Tales from Blackwood Volume 4 by Various

By so doing the mystic fern seed may be obtained, which possesses the strength of thirty or forty men.

From The Folk-lore of Plants by T. F. Thiselton (Thomas Firminger Thiselton) Dyer

She sat rocking herself to and fro in her sorrow, while the old woman threw the fern seed, picked, alas! too late, into the driftwood fire.

From A Fortunate Term by Angela Brazil