Samphire

Samphire (? o?; 277) , noun

[French l'herbe de Saint Pierre. See Saint, and Petrel.]

(a)

(Botany) A fleshy, suffrutescent, umbelliferous European plant (Crithmum maritimum). It grows among rocks and on cliffs along the seacoast, and is used for pickles.

Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade! — Shakespeare

(b)

The species of glasswort (Salicornia herbacea); -- called in England marsh samphire.

(c)

A seashore shrub (Borrichia arborescens) of the West Indies.

Collocations (1)

Golden samphire , See under Golden.