English

fernane

From fern + -ane.

Formed from fern + -ane

Proto-Indo-European *p(t)erH-

…

Proto-Germanic *farnaz

Proto-West Germanic *farn

Old English fearn

Middle English fern

English fern

Today it means

noun A specific triterpene hydrocarbon; any of many naturally-occurring derivatives of this compound.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.