Basic Guidelines For English Spellings
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Any of several herbaceous plants that grow on bare or rocky ground, including rock samphire, Crithmum maritimum, and (formerly) parsley piert, Aphanes arvensis.
Late 16th century; earliest use found in Household Books James VI & Anne. From Middle French passe-pierre rock samphire, saxifrage (although this is first attested slightly later: 1615) from passe- + pierre stone.