4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fern  \Fern\,  adv 
  Long  ago.  [Obs.]  --Chaucer. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fern  \Fern\,  a.  [AS.  fyrn.] 
  Ancient;  old  [Obs.]  ``Pilgrimages  to  .  .  .  ferne  halwes.'' 
  [saints].  --Chaucer. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Fern  \Fern\,  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. 
 
  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. 
 
  {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. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  fern 
  n  :  any  of  numerous  flowerless  and  seedless  vascular  plants 
  having  true  roots  from  a  rhizome  and  fronds  that  uncurl 
  upward;  reproduce  by  spores 

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