English edit

Etymology edit

From Anglo-Norman polypodie, from Late Latin polypodium, q.v.

Pronunciation edit

Noun edit

polypody (plural polypodies)

  1. Any of many ferns of the genus Polypodium, especially common polypody.
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: [], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 4, member 2, subsection ii:
      Polypodie and epithyme are, without all exceptions, gentle purgers of melancholy […].
    • 1653, Nicholas Culpeper, The English Physician Enlarged, Folio Society, published 2007, page 226:
      If the humour be otherwise choose your Polypody accordingly.

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