Main Entry:

fern

Pronunciation:

\ˈfərn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English fearn; akin to Old High German farn fern, Sanskrit parṇa wing, leaf

Date:

before 12th century

: any of a division (Filicophyta) or class (Filicopsida) of flowerless spore-producing vascular plants having alternating sporophyte and gametophyte generations ; especially : any of an order (Filicales) of homosporous plants possessing roots, stems, and leaflike fronds — compare seed fern

— fern·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— ferny \ˈfər-nē\ adjective