English

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Etymology

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A genericized form of translingual Aspidium, from New Latin aspidium (shield fern) proposed by Schwartz in Schrader's Journal für die Botanik in 1800, from Ancient Greek ἀσπίς (aspís, shield) + -ium.

Noun

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aspidium (countable and uncountable, plural aspidiums or aspidia)

  1. (dated, countable) Synonym of dryopteris: a genus of ferns or a member of the genus, including the male fern.
  2. (dated, medicine, uncountable) A vermifuge prepared from the dried male fern.