English

fernbird

From fern + bird.

A compound of fern + bird

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

…

Proto-Germanic *farnaz

Proto-West Germanic *farn

Old English fearn

Middle English fern

English fern

Old English bridd ‘chick’

Middle English bird

English bird

Today it means

noun Megalurus punctatus, an insectivorous bird native to New Zealand.

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

Etymograph / fernbird