Christmas fern

Christmas fern
Fern Fern (f[~e]rn), n. [AS. fearn; akin to D. varen, G. farn, farnkraut; cf. Skr. par[.n]a wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartis fern.] (Bot.) An order of cryptogamous plants, the {Filices}, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size. [1913 Webster]

Note: The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns. [1913 Webster]

{Christmas fern}. See under {Christmas}.

{Climbing fern} (Bot.), a delicate North American fern ({Lygodium palmatum}), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is much sought for purposes of decoration.

{Fern owl}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The short-eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] -- {Fern shaw}, a fern thicket. [Eng.] --R. Browning. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Christmas fern — Christmas Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Christmas fern — noun North American evergreen fern having pinnate leaves and dense clusters of lance shaped fronds • Syn: ↑canker brake, ↑dagger fern, ↑evergreen wood fern, ↑Polystichum acrostichoides • Hypernyms: ↑fern • Member Holonyms: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Christmas fern — an evergreen fern, Polystichum acrostichoides, having dense clusters of stiff fronds growing from a central rootstock. Also called dagger fern. [1875 80] * * * …   Universalium

  • Christmas fern — noun Date: 1878 a North American evergreen fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Christmas fern — noun An evergreen fern (Polystichum acrostichoides) of eastern North America …   Wiktionary

  • Christmas — Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and hospitality.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Christmas box — Christmas Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Christmas carol — Christmas Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Christmas day — Christmas Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Christmas eve — Christmas Christ mas, n. [Christ + mass.] An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings, and… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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