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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fern seed

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

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

I'll gather some fern seed and drop it in the cradle.

From A Fortunate Term by Angela Brazil

"But on St. John's mysterious night, Confest the mystic fern seed fell."

From The Fern Lover's Companion A Guide for the Northeastern States and Canada by George Henry Tilton

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

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