samphire

samphire Definition

sam·phire (sam′fīr′)

noun

a fleshy, Old World seashore plant (Crithmum maritimum) of the umbel family, with cut leaves and small clusters of yellowish flowers
glasswort

Etymology: earlier sampire, sainpere, altered < Fr (herbe de) Saint Pierre, St. Peter's (herb)

samphire Usage Examples

Converse of object

Adjective modifier

golden: Look for golden samphire that flowers from July to September, a scarce plant in most of Britain.
green: My sense of place found a plate of large juicy sweet cockles on a bed of crisp green samphire before me.

Modifies a noun

cottage: SAMPHIRE COTTAGE Sleeps 4/5 + cot, two en-suite rooms with 6 ft beds, sofa bed on mezzanine.
flat: Follow this road west through farmland and samphire flats.

Noun used with modifier

marsh: It has an earlier season than marsh samphire, and is in season during spring, rather than summer.

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