English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

Abbreviation of old man fern.

Noun edit

man fern (plural man ferns)

  1. (Tasmania) A tree fern. [from 19th c.]
    • 1920, Bernard Cronin, Timber Wolves:
      He'll likely mistake you for a man fern.
    • 2001, Richard Flanagan, Gould's Book of Fish, Vintage, published 2016, page 177:
      At the beginning they set up their trade in groves lined with manfern fronds [] .