English

fernseed

From fern + seed.

A compound of fern + seed

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

…

Proto-Germanic *farnaz

Proto-West Germanic *farn

Old English fearn

Middle English fern

English fern

Proto-Indo-European *seh₁- ‘to sow’

Proto-Germanic *sēdą

Proto-West Germanic *sād

Old English sēd ‘seed’

Middle English seed

English seed

Today it means

noun The spores of ferns, once believed to have magical properties when properly gathered.

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

Etymograph / fernseed