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Definition of fiddlehead
fiddlehead
/ˈfɪd.əl.hɛd/
fid · dle · head
Plural:fiddleheads
fiddlehead Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
The tightly coiled, furled frond of a young fern, often harvested in the spring and eaten as a vegetable.
Example
"We spent the crisp spring morning foraging for fiddleheads in the damp, shaded woodland."
2
A carved ornamental scroll forming the upper end of the neck of a stringed instrument, or a similarly shaped ornament at the bow of a ship.
Example
"The luthier carefully carved an elegant fiddlehead out of a single block of polished maple wood."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for fiddleheadWord Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-18th century as a compound of 'fiddle' and 'head', named for the visual resemblance of the unfurled fern frond to the scrolled top of a violin.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Fiddlehead. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/fiddlehead