saltwort

[ sawlt-wurt, -wawrt ]

noun

1. any of various plants of sea beaches, salt marshes, and alkaline regions, especially belonging to the genus Salsola, of the amaranth family, as S. kali, a bushy plant having prickly leaves, or belonging to the genus Salicornia.

saltwort

/ ˈsɔːltˌwɜːt /

noun

1. Also calledglasswortkali any of several chenopodiaceous plants of the genus Salsola, esp S. kali, of beaches and salt marshes, which has prickly leaves, striped stems, and small green flowers See also barilla
2. another name for sea milkwort

Word History and Origins

Origin of saltwort¹

1560–70; translation of Dutch zoutkruid, equivalent to zout salt + kruid herb. See salt ¹, wort ¹

Example Sentences

Even those meeting saltwort for the first time will find that the rest of the meal looks familiar.

From New York Times

Some of the descriptions still apply to the place today – houses "where hang at open doors the net and cork", marshland with "samphire banks and saltwort", tarry boats and rounded flints.

From The Guardian

The discovery follows the return to the island's beaches of the prickly saltwort plant, which provides food for the moth's larvae.

From BBC

Barilla, a rich potassic manure prepared by burning certain strand plants, especially the saltwort, was also in the past largely exported from Sicily and Spain.

From Project Gutenberg