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

There is a sprinkling of little islets along the shore here, one of which is Samphire Isle.

From Project Gutenberg

In the few marshes on this side we afterward saw Samphire, Rosemary, and other plants new to us inlanders.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the samphire grew in abundance, and the little girl set to work to fill the two large baskets that stood near.

From Project Gutenberg

You'll take me, daddy, won't yer—'cos I've picked a lot of samphire—all that, and another basketful up there?

From Project Gutenberg

We found the plain very barren as we passed along it, producing nothing but a kind of samphire, and other such marine plants.

From Project Gutenberg