royal fern

noun

variants or less commonly royal osmund
: a common and widely distributed fern (Osmunda regalis) with large bipinnate fronds bearing the panicled globose sporangia at their summit

called also ditch fern, French bracken, king fern

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of royal fern was in 1781

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Dictionary Entries Near royal fern

royal eagle

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Cite this Entry

“Royal fern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/royal%20fern. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

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