1.  The bed or receptacle prepared by a fowl for holding her eggs and for hatching and rearing her young. [1913 Webster]
"The birds of the air have nests." [1913 Webster]

2.  The place in which the eggs of other animals, as insects, turtles, etc., are laid and hatched; a snug place in which young animals are reared. Bentley. [1913 Webster]

3.  A snug, comfortable, or cozy residence or situation; a retreat, or place of habitual resort; hence, those who occupy a nest, frequent a haunt, or are associated in the same pursuit; as, a nest of traitors; a nest of bugs. [1913 Webster]
"A little cottage, like some poor man's nest." [1913 Webster]

4.  An aggregated mass of any ore or mineral, in an isolated state, within a rock. [1913 Webster]

5.  A collection of boxes, cases, or the like, of graduated size, each put within the one next larger. [1913 Webster]

6.  A compact group of pulleys, gears, springs, etc., working together or collectively. [1913 Webster]

   To build and occupy a nest. [1913 Webster]
"The king of birds nested within his leaves." [1913 Webster]

   To put into a nest; to form a nest for. [1913 Webster]
"From him who nested himself into the chief power." [1913 Webster]

nest, n. & v.
--n.
1 a structure or place where a bird lays eggs and shelters its young.
2 an animal's or insect's breeding-place or lair.
3 a snug or secluded retreat or shelter.
4 (often foll. by of) a place fostering something undesirable (a nest of vice).
5 a brood or swarm.
6 a group or set of similar objects, often of different sizes and fitting together for storage (a nest of tables).
--v.
1 intr. use or build a nest.
2 intr. take wild birds' nests or eggs.
3 intr. (of objects) fit together or one inside another.
4 tr. (usu. as nested adj.) establish in or as in a nest.

Idiom:
nest egg
1 a sum of money saved for the future.
2 a real or artificial egg left in a nest to induce hens to lay eggs there.

Derivative:
nestful n. (pl. -fuls). nesting n. (in sense 2 of v.). nestlike adj.

Etymology:
OE nest

N  multitude, numerous, numerosity, numerality, multiplicity, profusion, legion, host, great number, large number, round number, enormous number, a quantity, numbers, array, sight, army, sea, galaxy, scores, peck, bushel, shoal, swarm, draught, bevy, cloud, flock, herd, drove, flight, covey, hive, brood, litter, farrow, fry, nest, crowd, lots, all in the world and his wife, greater number, majority, multiplication, multiple, many, several, sundry, divers, various, not a few, Briarean, a hundred, a thousand, a myriad, a million, a quadrillion, a nonillion, a thousand and one, some ten or a dozen, some forty or fifty, half a dozen, half a hundred, very many, full many, ever so many, numerous, numerose, profuse, in profusion, manifold, multiplied, multitudinous, multiple, multinominal, teeming, populous, peopled, crowded, thick, studded, galore, thick coming, many more, more than one can tell, a world of, no end of, no end to, cum multis aliis, thick as hops, thick as hail, plenty as blackberries, numerous as the stars in the firmament, numerous as the sands on the seashore, numerous as the hairs on the head, and what not, and heaven knows what, endless, their name is 'legion', acervatim, en foule, many- headed multitude, numerous as glittering gems of morning dew, vel prece vel pretio.

N  cause, origin, source, principle, element, occasioner, prime mover, primum mobile, vera causa, author, mainspring, agent, leaven, groundwork, foundation, spring, fountain, well, font, fountainhead, spring head, wellhead, fons et origo, genesis, descent, remote cause, influence, pivot, hinge, turning point, lever, crux, fulcrum, key, proximate cause, causa causans, straw that breaks the camel's back, ground, reason, reason why, why and wherefore, rationale, occasion, derivation, final cause, les dessous des cartes, undercurrents, rudiment, egg, germ, embryo, bud, root, radix radical, etymon, nucleus, seed, stem, stock, stirps, trunk, tap-root, gemmule, radicle, semen, sperm, nest, cradle, nursery, womb, nidus, birthplace, hotbed, causality, causation, origination, production, caused, causal, original, primary, primitive, primordial, aboriginal, protogenal, radical, embryonic, embryotic, in embryo, in ovo, seminal, germinal, at the bottom of, connate, having a common origin, because, behind the scenes, causa latet vis est notissima, felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.

N  abode, dwelling, lodging, domicile, residence, apartment, place, digs, pad, address, habitation, where one's lot is cast, local habitation, berth, diggings, seat, lap, sojourn, housing, quarters, headquarters, resiance, tabernacle, throne, ark, home, fatherland, country, homestead, homestall, fireside, hearth, hearth stone, chimney corner, inglenook, ingle side, harem, seraglio, zenana, household gods, lares et penates, roof, household, housing, dulce domum, paternal domicile, native soil, native land, habitat, range, stamping ground, haunt, hangout, biosphere, environment, ecological niche, nest, nidus, snuggery, arbor, bower, lair, den, cave, hole, hiding place, cell, sanctum sanctorum, aerie, eyrie, eyry, rookery, hive, covert, resort, retreat, perch, roost, nidification, kala jagah, bivouac, camp, encampment, cantonment, castrametation, barrack, casemate, casern, tent, building, chamber, xenodochium, tenement, messuage, farm, farmhouse, grange, hacienda, toft, cot, cabin, hut, chalet, croft, shed, booth, stall, hovel, bothy, shanty, dugout, wigwam, pen, barn, bawn, kennel, sty, doghold, cote, coop, hutch, byre, cow house, cow shed, stable, dovecote, columbary, columbarium, shippen, igloo, iglu, jacal, lacustrine dwelling, lacuslake dwelling, lacuspile dwelling, log cabin, log house, shack, shebang, tepee, topek, house, mansion, place, villa, cottage, box, lodge, hermitage, rus in urbe, folly, rotunda, tower, chateau, castle, pavilion, hotel, court, manor-house, capital messuage, hall, palace, kiosk, bungalow, casa, country seat, apartment house, flat house, frame house, shingle house, tenement house, temple, hamlet, village, thorp, dorp, ham, kraal, borough, burgh, town, city, capital, metropolis, suburb, province, country, county town, county seat, courthouse, ghetto, street, place, terrace, parade, esplanade, alameda, board walk, embankment, road, row, lane, alley, court, quadrangle, quad, wynd, close, yard, passage, rents, buildings, mews, square, polygon, circus, crescent, mall, piazza, arcade, colonnade, peristyle, cloister, gardens, grove, residences, block of buildings, market place, place, plaza, anchorage, roadstead, roads, dock, basin, wharf, quay, port, harbor, quarter, parish, assembly room, meetinghouse, pump room, spa, watering place, inn, hostel, hostelry, hotel, tavern, caravansary, dak bungalow, khan, hospice, public house, pub, pot house, mug house, gin mill, gin palace, bar, bar room, barrel house, cabaret, chophouse, club, clubhouse, cookshop, dive, exchange, grill room, saloon, shebeen, coffee house, eating house, canteen, restaurant, buffet, cafe, estaminet, posada, almshouse, poorhouse, townhouse, garden, park, pleasure ground, plaisance, demesne, cage, terrarium, doghouse, pen, aviary, barn, stall, zoo, urban, metropolitan, suburban, provincial, rural, rustic, domestic, cosmopolitan, palatial, eigner Hert ist goldes Werth, even cities have their graves, ubi libertas ibi patria, home sweet home.

bird nest, bird's nest, bird's nest fern, climbing bird's nest fern, crow's nest, cuckoo's nest, feather one's nest, hornet's nest, hornets' nest, love nest, mare's nest, mouse nest, mouse's nest, nest egg, sleeper nest, wasp's nest, wasps' nest

   fern(n = noun.plant) - any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores;
is a kind of nonflowering plant, pteridophyte
has parts: fern seed
is a member of class filicinae, class filicopsida, filicinae, filicopsida
has particulars: pecopteris, film fern, filmy fern, bristle fern, filmy fern, flowering fern, osmund, crape fern, leptopteris superba, prince-of-wales feather, prince-of-wales fern, prince-of-wales plume, todea superba, crepe fern, king fern, todea barbara, curly grass, curly grass fern, schizaea pusilla, anemia adiantifolia, pine fern, climbing fern, mohria caffrorum, scented fern, aquatic fern, water fern, adder's tongue, adder's tongue fern, grape fern, flowering fern, helminthostachys zeylanica, diplopterygium longissimum, giant scrambling fern, fan fern, gleichenia flabellata, sticherus flabellatus, umbrella fern, polypody, aglaomorpha meyeniana, bear's-paw fern, strap fern, basket fern, drynaria rigidula, lecanopteris, microgramma-piloselloides, snake polypody, climbing bird's nest fern, microsorium punctatum, golden polypody, phlebodium aureum, polypodium aureum, rabbit's-foot fern, serpent fern, staghorn fern, cyclophorus lingua, felt fern, pyrrosia lingua, tongue fern, potato fern, solanopteris bifrons, grass fern, ribbon fern, vittaria lineata, spleenwort, asplenium nidus, bird's nest fern, asplenium scolopendrium, hart's-tongue, hart's-tongue fern, phyllitis scolopendrium, asplenium ceterach, ceterach officinarum, scale fern, scaly fern, asplenium nigripes, schaffneria nigripes, scolopendrium nigripes, scolopendrium, hard fern, doodia, rasp fern, chain fern, tree fern, davallia, boulder fern, dennstaedtia punctilobula, hay-scented, hay-scented fern, scented fern, bracken, brake, pasture brake, pteridium aquilinum, bracken, pteridium esculentum, culcita dubia, false bracken, buckler fern, shield fern, wood-fern, wood fern, woodfern, athyrium filix-femina, lady fern, athyrium pycnocarpon, diplazium pycnocarpon, glade fern, narrow-leaved spleenwort, silvery spleenwort, cyrtomium aculeatum, holly fern, polystichum aculeatum, bladder fern, athyrium thelypteroides, deparia acrostichoides, silvery spleenwort, gymnocarpium dryopteris, oak fern, thelypteris dryopteris, gymnocarpium robertianum, limestone fern, northern oak fern, fiddlehead, matteuccia struthiopteris, onoclea struthiopteris, ostrich fern, pteretis struthiopteris, shuttlecock fern, hart's-tongue, hart's-tongue fern, olfersia cervina, polybotria cervina, polybotrya cervina, bead fern, onoclea sensibilis, sensitive fern, canker brake, christmas fern, dagger fern, evergreen wood fern, polystichum acrostichoides, holly fern, leather fern, leatherleaf fern, polystichum adiantiformis, rumohra adiantiformis, ten-day fern, button fern, tectaria cicutaria, indian button fern, tectaria macrodonta, woodsia, oleander fern, oleandra mollis, oleandra neriiformis, sword fern, acrostichum aureum, golden fern, leather fern, maidenhair, maidenhair fern, annual fern, anogramma leptophylla, jersey fern, lip fern, lipfern, cheilanthes gracillima, lace fern, bamboo fern, coniogramme japonica, rock brake, doryopteris pedata, hand fern, cliff-brake, cliff brake, rock brake, button fern, pellaea rotundifolia, pityrogramma argentea, silver fern, pityrogramma calomelanos, silver fern, golden fern, pityrogramma calomelanos aureoflava, gold fern, pityrogramma chrysophylla, brake, pteris cretica, pteris multifida, spider brake, spider fern, pteris serrulata, ribbon fern, spider fern, marattia salicina, potato fern, dryopteris thelypteris, marsh fern, thelypteris palustris, christella, dryopteris oreopteris, mountain fern, oreopteris limbosperma, dryopteris noveboracensis, new york fern, parathelypteris novae-boracensis, massachusetts fern, parathelypteris simulata, thelypteris simulata, beech fern
Derived forms adjective ferny₁, adjective ferny₂

   Long ago. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

   Ancient; old. [Obs.] “Pilgrimages to . . . ferne halwes.” [saints]. Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

   An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have their fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in tropical climates often attain a gigantic size. [1913 Webster]
" The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia, containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns." [1913 Webster]

fern, n. (pl. same or ferns) any flowerless plant of the order Filicales, reproducing by spores and usu. having feathery fronds.

Derivative:
fernery n. (pl. -ies). fernless adj. ferny adj.

Etymology:
OE fearn f. WG

N  vegetable, vegetable kingdom, flora, verdure, plant, tree, shrub, bush, creeper, herb, herbage, grass, annual, perennial, biennial, triennial, exotic, timber, forest, wood, woodlands, timberland, hurst, frith, holt, weald, park, chase, greenwood, brake, grove, copse, coppice, bocage, tope, clump of trees, thicket, spinet, spinney, underwood, brushwood, scrub, boscage, bosk, ceja, chaparal, motte, arboretum, bush, jungle, prairie, heath, heather, fern, bracken, furze, gorse, whin, grass, turf, pasture, pasturage, turbary, sedge, rush, weed, fungus, mushroom, toadstool, lichen, moss, conferva, mold, growth, alfalfa, alfilaria, banyan, blow, blowth, floret, petiole, pin grass, timothy, yam, yew, zinnia, foliage, branch, bough, ramage, stem, tigella, spray, leaf, flower, blossom, bine, flowering plant, timber tree, fruit tree, pulse, legume, vegetable, vegetal, vegetive, vegitous, herbaceous, herbal, botanic, sylvan, silvan, arborary, arboreous, arborescent, arborical, woody, grassy, verdant, verdurous, floral, mossy, lignous, ligneous, wooden, leguminous, vosky, cespitose, turf-like, turfy, endogenous, exogenous, green-robed senators of mighty woods, this is the forest primeval.

adder's fern, adder's tongue fern, alabama lip fern, alpine lady fern, american maidenhair fern, american parsley fern, american wall fern, annual fern, aquatic fern, asparagus fern, ball fern, bamboo fern, basket fern, bead fern, bear's-paw fern, beech fern, bermuda maidenhair fern, berry fern, bird's nest fern, bird's-foot fern, black tree fern, bladder fern, boston fern, boulder fern, braun's holly fern, bristle fern, brittle bladder fern, brittle fern, brittle maidenhair fern, broad beech fern, buckler fern, bulblet bladder fern, bulblet fern, button fern, california fern, canary island hare's foot fern, carolina pond fern, central american strap fern, chain fern, christmas fern, cinnamon fern, climbing bird's nest fern, climbing fern, climbing maidenhair fern, clover fern, coffee fern, common staghorn fern, cow-tongue fern, crape fern, creeping fern, crepe fern, curly grass fern, dagger fern, daisy-leaved grape fern, daisyleaf grape fern, deer fern, ditch fern, elkhorn fern, european parsley fern, evergreen wood fern, fan fern, farley maidenhair fern, felt fern, fern ally, fern family, fern genus, fern palm, fern rhapis, fern seed, fiddlehead fern, film fern, filmy fern, five-fingered maidenhair fern, floating fern, florida strap fern, flower-cup fern, flowering fern, fragile fern, fragrant cliff fern, fragrant shield fern, fragrant wood fern, giant fern, giant scrambling fern, glade fern, glory fern, gold fern, golden fern, goldie's fern, goldie's shield fern, goldie's wood fern, grape fern, grass fern, hairy lip fern, hand fern, hard fern, hare's-foot bristle fern, hare's-foot fern, hart's-tongue fern, hartford fern, hay-scented fern, holly fern, indian button fern, interrupted fern, jersey fern, kidney fern, killarney fern, king fern, lace fern, lady fern, leather fern, leatherleaf fern, leatherleaf wood fern, leathery grape fern, licorice fern, limestone fern, lip fern, long beech fern, maidenhair fern, male fern, marginal wood fern, marsh fern, massachusetts fern, meadow fern, mosquito fern, mountain bladder fern, mountain fern, mountain male fern, mountain parsley fern, narrow beech fern, narrow-leaved strap fern, nebraska fern, new york fern, northern beech fern, northern holly fern, northern oak fern, oak fern, oleander fern, ostrich fern, pine fern, potato fern, prickly shield fern, prince-of-wales fern, rabbit's-foot fern, rasp fern, rattlesnake fern, resurrection fern, ribbon fern, royal fern, sago fern, scale fern, scaly fern, scented fern, sea fern, seed fern, sensitive fern, serpent fern, shield fern, shuttlecock fern, silver fern, silver tree fern, skeleton fork fern, smooth lip fern, snake fern, snuffbox fern, soft shield fern, soft tree fern, southern beech fern, southwestern lip fern, spider fern, squirrel's-foot fern, stag-horn fern, staghorn fern, strap fern, sweet fern, sword fern, ten-day fern, tongue fern, toothed sword fern, tree fern, umbrella fern, venus'-hair fern, virginia chain fern, walking fern, wall fern, water fern, western holly fern, whisk fern, winter fern, wood fern, wooly lip fern