samphire
/ˈsamfʌɪə
/noun
1 (also rock samphire) A European plant of the parsley family, which grows on rocks and cliffs by the sea. Its aromatic fleshy leaves are sometimes eaten as a vegetable.
- Crithmum maritimum, family Umbelliferae.
- The chef's special was Brochettes of scallops and prawn on a bed of green leaves and samphire grass.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the same pan, then add the samphire.
1.1Used in names of fleshy-leaved plants resembling samphire that grow near the sea, e.g. golden samphire.The salt marshes support cord grass, marsh samphire and sea purslane....
- As she observed, it would have been a great convenience if everyone had agreed long ago to call marsh samphire by its alternative name glasswort (given because it used to be burned to provide alkali for glass-makers).
- The subfamily Salicornioideae Kostel., more commonly known as samphires or glassworts, are characterized by their distinctive reduced succulent leaves, which may be modified to form an articulated, photosynthetic stem.
Origin
Mid 16th century (earlier as sampiere): from French (herbe de) Saint Pierre 'St Peter('s herb)'.
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