maidenhair

[ meyd-n-hair ]

noun

1. any fern of the genus Adiantum, the cultivated species of which have fine, glossy stalks and delicate, finely divided fronds.

Word History and Origins

Origin of maidenhair¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; maiden, hair

Example Sentences

Water captured from the roof dribbles down its face, from which maidenhair ferns and philodendrons sprout.

From MIT Technology Review

Only think of her having some of the maidenhair and cape jessamine still in water, that we sent her so long ago.

From Project Gutenberg

It was fed from a spring from above, which flowed down a gully thickly festooned with maidenhair fern.

From Project Gutenberg

Some trailing maidenhair escaping from the paper caught in her dress, and broke off.

From Project Gutenberg

She decided that it was the flat, where the bunch of orchids and maidenhair had come and lived almost a week.

From Project Gutenberg

Adiantum, ad-i-an′tum, n. maidenhair, a large genus of ferns.

From Project Gutenberg