fernleaf, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

fernleaf n.

[the SE silver fern, adopted as a national emblem, also seen on the uniforms of some representative N.Z. sporting teams]

(N.Z.) a New Zealander, usu. a soldier.

1916		Chronicle NZEF 15 Nov. 127: Call them ‘Overseas soldiers’ or ‘Down-under’ men... Call them ‘Cornstalks’ or ‘Fernleaves’—all out for a fight—But don’t call them Anzacs, for that isn’t right [DNZE].
1917		Chronicle NZEF 17 Jan. 223: What strikes me most about the Fernleaf crowd is their beautiful humility respecting the merits of their own country [DNZE].
1935		Mitchell & Strong in Partridge Sl. Today and Yesterday (1935) 285: It [was] very generally believed by the New Zealand troops (Fernleaves or, as they preferred to call themselves, Diggers) that every English girl infallibly carried her return fare in case her soldier friend became mad.
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 45/1: Fernleaf New Zealander, from the badge worn by WWI soldiers; replaced by ‘Kiwi’.
1990		G. Langford Newlands 90: One third of all Fernleaves sent to luckdom come at Gallipoli died on Chunuk Bair [DNZE].
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].