fiddlehead

n.	1.	any of several tall ferns of northern temperate regions having graceful arched fronds and sporophylls resembling ostrich plumes.
	2.	New World fern (Osmunda cinnamonea) having woolly cinnamon-colored spore-bearing fronds in early spring later surrounded by green fronds, called also fiddlehead fern; the early uncurling fronds are edible, and sometimes considered as a vegetable delicacy.
	3.	(Naut.) an ornament on a ship's bow, curved like the volute or scroll at the head of a violin. Sometimes it serves the function of a billhead.

Noun	1.	fiddlehead - tall fern of northern temperate regions having graceful arched fronds and sporophylls resembling ostrich plumes Synonyms: Matteuccia struthiopteris, Onoclea struthiopteris, ostrich fern, Pteretis struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern
	2.	fiddlehead - New World fern having woolly cinnamon-colored spore-bearing fronds in early spring later surrounded by green fronds; the early uncurling fronds are edible Synonyms: cinnamon fern, fiddlehead fern, Osmunda cinnamonea

fern, genus Matteuccia, genus Pteretis, Matteuccia, Matteuccia struthiopteris, Onoclea struthiopteris, ostrich fern, Pteretis, Pteretis struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern