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Definition of maidenhair

maidenhair

/ˈmeɪ.dənˌhɛər/
maid · en · hair
Plural:maidenhairs
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maidenhair Lexical Profile

maidenhair Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various delicate ferns of the genus Adiantum (family Pteridaceae), native to damp, shaded habitats worldwide and characterized by fine, wiry, dark stems and fan-shaped, water-repellent leaflets.

Example

"She placed a potted maidenhair in the bathroom where the high humidity would keep its delicate fronds from drying out."

2

A deciduous gymnosperm tree (Ginkgo biloba) native to China, widely cultivated as an ornamental and bearing distinctive fan-shaped leaves that resemble the leaflets of the maidenhair fern.

Example

"In autumn, the leaves of the maidenhair turn a brilliant saffron yellow before falling."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for maidenhair

• Nearby Words

maianthemum
maid
maiden
maidenhair
maidenhair fern
maidenhair tree
maidenhood

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in Late Middle English as a compound of 'maiden' and 'hair', translating the Medieval Latin botanical term capillus Veneris ('hair of Venus'), in reference to the fern's slender, dark, hairlike stems.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maidenhair. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maidenhair
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