male fern

a bright-green fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, of Europe and northeastern North America.

Origin of male fern

First recorded in 1555–65

Male-fern, official in the United States Pharmacopoeia, has been used since the remotest times as a remedy for worms.

Ginseng and Other Medicinal Plants |A. R. (Arthur Robert) Harding
After that age it is safe to give very small doses of oil of male-fern and absolutely minute ones of santonine.

A Manual of Toy Dogs |Mrs. Leslie Williams
After male-fern capsules it is quite unnecessary to give any aperient.

A Manual of Toy Dogs |Mrs. Leslie Williams
Two hours after breakfast next morning give one-half dram of the oleoresin of male-fern in emulsion or capsule.

The Eugenic Marriage, Volume IV. (of IV.) |Grant Hague

On the following day, some tapeworm proglottides having been evacuated, both salts and male-fern extract were administered.

Parasites |T. Spencer Cobbold

male fern

a fern, Dryopteris filix-mas, having scaly stalks and pinnate fronds with kidney-shaped spore-producing bodies on the underside: family Polypodiaceae

C16: so called because it was formerly believed to be the male of the lady fern