samphire
Americannoun
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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.
noun
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Also called: rock samphire. an umbelliferous plant, Crithmum maritimum, of Eurasian coasts, having fleshy divided leaves and clusters of small greenish-white flowers
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a Eurasian coastal plant, Inula crithmoides, with fleshy leaves and yellow flower heads: family Asteraceae (composites)
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another name for glasswort
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any of several other plants of coastal areas
Etymology
Origin of samphire
1535–45; earlier sampiere < Middle French ( herbe de ) Saint Pierre (herb of ) Saint Peter
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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 ● Aug. 4, 2022
They said specific vegetation on the Gower Peninsula created meat with a flavour of samphire and sea lavender.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2021
The researchers said feather was not found in the parrot's usual spinifex habitat but near samphire, a succulent.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2017
Bird’s native lobster features steamed lobster from the Dorset coast, shaved Wye Valley asparagus, sliced Jersey Royal new potatoes and wild samphire, lightly dressed with rapeseed oil and chardonnay vinegar.
From New York Times ● May 23, 2013
“Aunt March is a regular samphire, is she not?” observed Amy, tasting her mixture critically.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
