bulrush

American  

[bool-ruhsh] / ˈbʊlˌrʌʃ /

noun

1. (in Biblical use) the papyrus, Cyperus papyrus.

2. any of various rushes of the genera Scirpus and Typha.

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bulrush British  

/ ˈbʊlˌrʌʃ /

noun

1. a grasslike cyperaceous marsh plant, Scirpus lacustris , used for making mats, chair seats, etc

2. a popular name for reed mace

3. a biblical word for papyrus

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Etymology

Origin of bulrush

1400–50; late Middle English bulrish papyrus, probably bull ¹ + rish rush ²

Example Sentences

Families and friends fish together on the lake’s banks and its fishing piers, casting poles through the California bulrush.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2024

Largemouth bass are good on worms, spinners, and crankbait in bulrush and cattails.

From Washington Times • Mar. 11, 2020

The lake was layered with sweet flag, sedge, lilies, horehound, bulrush and buckbean.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2016

On seeing Mr Blair's cover photograph she began to sniffle: "He was so full of promise," she said, "And look at him now, he's a broken bulrush in the River Nile of life."

From The Guardian • Sep. 3, 2010

Along the banks of the Wooded Island ice two feet thick locked Olmsted’s bulrush and sedge in cruel contortions.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson