Samphire \Sam"phire\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. l'herbe de Saint Pierre. See Saint, and Petrel.]

(Bot.)
   (a) 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! --Shak.
   (b) The species of glasswort (Salicornia herbacea); -- called in England marsh samphire.
   (c) A seashore shrub (Borrichia arborescens) of the West Indies.

Golden samphire. See under Golden.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)