noun
US1 dialect Either of two fragrant shrubs of the family Myricaceae, the bog myrtle, Myrica gale, of Eurasia and North America, and the closely allied sweet fern, Comptonia peregrina, of eastern North America.
2The marsh fern, Thelypteris palustris, especially the North American variety T. palustris var. pubescens.
Origin
Late 19th century. From meadow + fern.
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