spleenwort

American  

[spleen-wurt, -wawrt] / ˈsplinˌwɜrt, -ˌwɔrt /

noun

1. any of various temperate and tropical ferns of the genera Asplenium and Diplazium, certain species of which are grown as ornamentals.

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spleenwort British  

/ ˈspliːnˌwɜːt /

noun

1. any of various ferns of the genus Asplenium, esp A. trichomanes, that often grows on walls, having linear or oblong sori on the undersurface of the fronds See also asplenium

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Etymology

Origin of spleenwort

First recorded in 1570–80; spleen + wort ²

Example Sentences

Plant maidenhair spleenwort in a container, where you can appreciate its beauty up close.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2023

Asplenium, as-plē′ni-um, n. spleenwort, a genus of ferns, mostly tropical, with long or linear sori, with indusium arising laterally from above a vein—including the lady-fern, black maiden-hair, &c.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various

So she went gayly across the grass, laughing at Archie because he would look on level ground for her maiden-hair spleenwort.

From Lippincott's Magazine, December 1878 by Various

Also, the black maidenhair, a species of spleenwort.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

As a matter of fact, having climbed the path that ran beneath oaks and through patches of brakes, spleenwort, and lady-ferns, she was astonished to hear a faint, plaintive singing, and stopped to listen.

From The Side Of The Angels A Novel by King, Basil