maidenhair fern

noun

maid·​en·​hair fern ˈmā-dᵊn-ˌher- How to pronounce maidenhair fern (audio)
variants or less commonly maidenhair
plural maidenhair ferns also maidenhairs
: any of a genus (Adiantum) of ferns with delicate palmately branched fronds

Illustration of maidenhair fern

Illustration of maidenhair fern

Examples of maidenhair fern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Water captured from the roof dribbles down its face, from which maidenhair ferns and philodendrons sprout. Erica Gies, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2018 But be aware that maidenhair ferns do require a bit more TLC than low-maintenance plants such as pothos or snake plant. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 17 Aug. 2023 Jarrod tells us that even notoriously difficult maidenhair ferns have strong and resilient root structures that help the plants survive brief periods of drought. Sunset Magazine, 25 July 2023 But in damp shade, there are other options, including Aleutian maidenhair fern. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 17 Feb. 2023 Jianbin Yan, a plant physiologist at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences’s Agricultural Genomics Institute, and colleagues found similar parallels in a maidenhair fern, Adiantum capillus-veneris. Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 22 Sep. 2022 My Elhew pointer, Traveler, once pointed a December grouse that was feeding on delicate maidenhair ferns growing where a cluster of tiny springs kept the ground clear of snow. Tom Davis, Field & Stream, 4 Dec. 2019 This whimsical fairy castle rises from a bed of clovers, thyme, violets, and maidenhair ferns in the back garden, one of three small castles on the mountain. Zoe Greenberg, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2019 Hellebores, jasmine and maidenhair ferns all make beautiful potted gifts, too. Sarah Bray, House Beautiful, 4 Feb. 2014

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of maidenhair fern was in 1833

Dictionary Entries Near maidenhair fern

Cite this Entry

“Maidenhair fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maidenhair%20fern. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

maidenhair fern

noun
maid·​en·​hair fern ˈmād-ᵊn-ˌha(ə)r- How to pronounce maidenhair fern (audio)
-ˌhe(ə)r-
: any of a genus of ferns with slender stems and delicate much-divided often feathery leaves

called also maidenhair

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