samphire

[ sam-fahyuhr ]

noun

1. a European succulent plant, Crithmum maritimum, of the parsley family, having compound leaves and small, whitish flowers, growing in clefts of rock near the sea.
2. glasswort.

samphire

/ ˈsæmˌfaɪə /

noun

1. Also calledrock samphire an umbelliferous plant, Crithmum maritimum, of Eurasian coasts, having fleshy divided leaves and clusters of small greenish-white flowers
2. golden samphire
   a Eurasian coastal plant, Inula crithmoides, with fleshy leaves and yellow flower heads: family Asteraceae (composites)
3. another name for glasswort
4. any of several other plants of coastal areas

Word History and Origins

Origin of samphire¹

1535–45; earlier sampiere < Middle French ( herbe de ) Saint Pierre (herb of ) Saint Peter

Word History and Origins

Origin of samphire¹

C16 sampiere, from French herbe de Saint Pierre Saint Peter's herb; perhaps influenced by camphire camphor

Example Sentences

Top one part Pentire Adrift's green and bitter samphire and sharp sea salt, with three parts Something & Nothing's sunshine-in-a-can Yuzu Seltzer, for a perfect day at the beach in a glass.

From Salon

“Don’t say ‘larks!’” implored Amy, as a return snub for the ‘samphire’ correction.

From Literature

They said specific vegetation on the Gower Peninsula created meat with a flavour of samphire and sea lavender.

From BBC

Sea beans — a thin, dark green, crunchy succulent foraged at the shore — also go by salicornia, samphire, glasswort and in France, where they are more commonly served than in the United States, salicornes.

From New York Times

They go on fishing expeditions together, to dig for clams or to gather samphire in the river estuary.

From The Guardian