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hart's-tongue

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variants: or hart's-tongue fern
plural hart's-tongues or hart's-tongue ferns

Definition of hart's-tongue

1 : a chiefly Eurasian fern (Phyllitis scolopendrium) with simple lanceolate fronds often auriculate at the base
2 : a tropical American fern (Polybotria cervina) of the family Polypodiaceae
3 : strap fern

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History and Etymology for hart's-tongue

hart's-tongue from Middle English hertestonge, from hertes (genitive of hert hart) + tonge tongue; hart's-tongue fern from hart's-tongue + fern; from the shape of the fronds

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Cite this Entry

“Hart's-tongue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hart%27s-tongue. Accessed 27 Feb. 2021.

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