polypody

American  

[pol-ee-poh-dee] / ˈpɒl iˌpoʊ di /

noun

polypodies plural

1. any fern of the genus Polypodium, as P. vulgare, having creeping rootstocks, deeply pinnatifid evergreen fronds, and round, naked sori.

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polypody British  

/ ˈpɒlɪˌpəʊdɪ /

noun

1. any of various ferns of the genus Polypodium, esp P. vulgare, having deeply divided leaves and round naked sori: family Polypodiaceae

2. any fern of the family Polypodiaceae, all having opaque leaves that are divided in most species

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• polypodies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of polypody

1400–50; late Middle English polypodye < Latin polypodion < Greek polypódion (> New Latin Polypodium ); see poly-, -pod, -ium

Example Sentences

I learned that the roots of the polypody do a great impression of licorice, and that Scotch pine is also called “Finnish rosemary.”

From Washington Post

I learned that the roots of the polypody do a great impression of licorice, and that Scotch pine is also called “Finnish rosemary.”

From Washington Post

Hiera piera six drachms, two and a half drachms each of black hellebore and polypody; a drachm and a half each of agaric, lapis lazuli, sal Indiae, coloquintida, mix them and make two pills.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

Redpad pattered up this to its source; and about six feet from the ground, half hidden by polypody ferns, found a cleft in the limestone.

From Lives of the Fur Folk by Haviland, M. D.

Two of the others, the polypody and Aspidium marginale, are evergreen also, but they are coarser in texture and of a less lively color.

From A Rambler's lease by Torrey, Bradford