hart's-tonguen.

Etymology: A translation of medieval Latin lingua cervi; so named from the shape of the long entire fronds: so German hirschzunge, Danish hertstong, French langue de cerf, etc.Previous versions of the OED give the stress as: ˈhart's-tongue.

The common name of the fern Scolopendrium vulgare; also extended to other species of the genus; rarely applied to some other polypodiaceous ferns, as Olfersia cervina and Polypodium Singaporianum.

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the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > hart's-tongue

hart's-tonguec1325

hind's tongue1538

scolopendrium1611

scolopender1696

spleenwort1725

hart's-tongue fern1854

seaweed-fern1865

Christ's-hair1878

c1325 Gloss. W. de Biblesw. in T. Wright Voc. 162 Cerflange, hertis-tounge.

?c1350 O.E. Med. Gloss. in Archæol. XXX. 409 Hertistonge, lyngua cervi.

c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 238/1 Hertys tongue, herbe, scolopendria, lingua cervi.

a1450 Alphita (Anecd. Oxon.) 103 Lingua ceruina..gall. cerflange, ang. herttonge.

1562 W. Turner 2nd Pt. Herball f. 86^v Hartis tunge..hath nether stalk sede nor floure.

1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cxciv. 156 Fumitorie, Hartstong..& such like cooling herbes.

1882 Good Cheer 37 Glossy fronds of hartstongue were uncurling among the wet stones.

Derivatives

hart's-tongue fern n.

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