male fern

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noun

a bright-green fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, of Europe and northeastern North America.

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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Origin of male fern

First recorded in 1555–65

Words nearby male fern

maledict, malediction, malefaction, malefactor, malefactress, male fern, malefic, maleficence, maleficent, Malegaon, male gaze

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use male fern in a sentence

From the tincture of the dried root of male fern (Lastra Filix-mas), made with rectified spirit.
Cooley's Cyclopdia of Practical Receipts and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, Professions, and Trades..., Sixth Edition, Volume I|Arnold Cooley
In certain respects this species bears a resemblance to the Male Fern.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
It is now recognized that the Male Fern may be divided into three sub-species.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
In the Male Fern any tapering at the base is of a very slight description.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin

Two hours after breakfast next morning give one-half dram of the oleoresin of male-fern in emulsion or capsule.
The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.)|Grant Hague

British Dictionary definitions for male fern

male fern

noun

a fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, having scaly stalks and pinnate fronds with kidney-shaped spore-producing bodies on the underside: family Polypodiaceae

Word Origin for male fern

C16: so called because it was formerly believed to be the male of the lady fern

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012