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os·mun·da

(ŏz-mŭndə)

Any of several ferns of the genus Osmunda, such as the royal fern, or formerly classified in this genus, such as the cinnamon fern, having bipinnately compound sterile fronds and separate spore-bearing fertile fronds. The fibrous roots of certain osmunda ferns were once widely used as a potting medium.

[New Latin Osmunda, genus name, from Medieval Latin osmunda, any of various ferns, especially the royal fern, from Old French osmonde, of unknown origin.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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