fiddlehead

noun

fid·​dle·​head ˈfi-dᵊl-ˌhed 

: one of the young coiled fronds of some ferns (such as the ostrich fern) that are often cooked and eaten as a vegetable

Before the tightly coiled frond of the young fern uncurls, it is called a fiddlehead because of its resemblance to the scrolled head of a violin.

—Maria Kourebanas

called also fiddlehead fern

Examples of fiddlehead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Potato gnocchi with Pennsylvania cinnamon fern fiddleheads. —Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 13 Sep. 2023

Smaller groups will eat well with a lofty breakfast sandwich with house sausage, egg and cheese or elegant egg dishes paired with fiddlehead ferns and other seasonal delights, as well as excellent pour-over coffees made to order. —oregonlive, 1 July 2022

The yard is carpeted with wild strawberries and fiddlehead ferns, its perimeter ringed with elderberry bushes. —Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2021

Simeon ran his fingers along tall reedy stalks, feeling for the familiar curled tendrils of pohole (fiddlehead ferns). —Elyse Inamine, Bon Appétit, 19 July 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

fiddlehead

noun

fid·​dle·​head ˈfid-ᵊl-ˌhed 

: one of the young tightly coiled leaves of some ferns that are often eaten as greens