maidenhair fern

noun

maid·​en·​hair fern ˈmā-dᵊn-ˌher- How to pronounce maidenhair fern (audio)
variants or less commonly maidenhair
ˈmā-dᵊn-ˌher How to pronounce maidenhair fern (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for maidenhair fern

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Browse Nearby Words

maiden duck
maidenhair fern
maidenhair spleenwort
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Cite this Entry

“Maidenhair fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/maidenhair%20fern. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on maidenhair fern

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about maidenhair fern

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