Do you speak a little French when you say 'samphire'?

'Samphire' is a word borrowed from French 'Saint Pierre'. The word entered the English language some time around 1545.

samphire [noun] [1545]

• a fleshy European seacoast plant (Crithmum maritimum) of the carrot family that is sometimes pickled
• a common glasswort (Salicornia europaea) that is sometimes pickled

See 'samphire' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

Etymology: Alteration of earlier 'sampiere' from Middle French ('herbe de') 'Saint Pierre' literally, St. Peter's herb

See more loan words from 1500s.