samphire
samphire Lexical Profile
samphire Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The succulent, salty-tasting young shoots and fleshy stems of marsh samphire or rock samphire, eaten raw in salads, pickled, or steamed as a coastal green vegetable.
"The chef served the pan-seared sea bass over a bed of steamed samphire and lemon butter."
Any of several salt-tolerant coastal plants, especially rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum) of the family Apiaceae, which grows on sea cliffs, or marsh samphire (genus Salicornia) of the family Amaranthaceae, which inhabits intertidal salt marshes.
"Clusters of wild samphire clung stubbornly to the crevices of the windswept limestone cliffs."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from French 'herbe de Saint Pierre' (herb of Saint Peter), the patron saint of fishermen, referring to its habitat along rocky sea cliffs.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.