Male fern

Male fern
Male Male, a. [F. m[^a]le, OF. masle, mascle, fr. L. masculus male, masculine, dim. of mas a male; possibly akin to E. man. Cf. {Masculine}, {Marry}, v. t.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sex that begets or procreates young, or (in a wider sense) to the sex that produces spermatozoa, by which the ova are fertilized; not female; as, male organs. [1913 Webster]

2. (Bot.) Capable of producing fertilization, but not of bearing fruit; -- said of stamens and antheridia, and of the plants, or parts of plants, which bear them. [1913 Webster]

3. Suitable to the male sex; characteristic or suggestive of a male; masculine; as, male courage. [1913 Webster]

4. Consisting of males; as, a male choir. [1913 Webster]

5. (Mech.) Adapted for entering another corresponding piece (the female piece) which is hollow and which it fits; as, a male gauge, for gauging the size or shape of a hole; a male screw, etc. [1913 Webster]

{Male fern} (Bot.), a fern of the genus {Aspidium} ({Aspidium Filixmas}), used in medicine as an anthelmintic, esp. against the tapeworm. {Aspidium marginale} in America, and {Aspidium athamanticum} in South Africa, are used as good substitutes for the male fern in medical practice. See {Female fern}, under {Female}.

{Male rhyme}, a rhyme in which only the last syllables agree, as laid, afraid, dismayed. See {Female rhyme}, under {Female}.

{Male screw} (Mech.), a screw having threads upon its exterior which enter the grooves upon the inside of a corresponding nut or female screw.

{Male thread}, the thread of a male screw. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • male-fern — maleˈ fern noun An elegant woodland fern formerly thought to be the male of the lady fern • • • Main Entry: ↑male …   Useful english dictionary

  • male fern — n. A fern of North America and Europe ({Dryopteris filix mas}) whose rhizomes and stalks yield an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms. It is a member of the woodfern genus. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • male fern — n a fern (Dryopteris filix mas) of Europe and No. America producing an oleoresin that is used in expelling tapeworms see ASPIDIUM * * * male shield fern Dryopteris filix mas …   Medical dictionary

  • male fern — male′ fern′ n. pln a bright green fern, Dryopteris filix mas, of the polypody family, native to Europe and NE North America: source of resin used to expel tapeworms • Etymology: 1555–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • male fern — n. a fern (Dryopteris filix mas) of the Northern Hemisphere: source of an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms …   English World dictionary

  • male fern — noun fern of North America and Europe whose rhizomes and stalks yield an oleoresin used to expel tapeworms • Syn: ↑Dryopteris filix mas • Hypernyms: ↑wood fern, ↑wood fern, ↑woodfern * * * noun : a fern (Dryopteris fi …   Useful english dictionary

  • male fern — kelminis papartis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Papartinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Dryopteris filix mas), paplitęs Europoje, Azijoje ir Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Dryopteris filix mas angl. common… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • male fern — /ˈmeɪl fɜn/ (say mayl fern) noun a variable, robust, rhizomatous fern with large dissected leaves, Dryopteris filix mas, widespread in woods of temperate regions …  

  • male fern — noun Date: 1562 a fern (Dryopteris filix mas) producing an oleoresin used in expelling tapeworms …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • male fern — a bright green fern, Dryopteris filix mas, of Europe and northeastern North America. [1555 65] * * * …   Universalium

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