Bulrush
//ˈbʊlɹʌʃ// noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A plant referred to in the story of Moses as growing along the banks of the Nile, which is believed to be the papyrus (Cyperus papyrus).
- 2 tall rush with soft erect or arching stems found in Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand, and common in North America wordnet
- 3 Any of various tall, narrow-leaved plants growing near water, especially cattail or reedmace, in the genus Typha.
- 4 tall marsh plant with cylindrical seed heads that explode when mature shedding large quantities of down; its long flat leaves are used for making mats and chair seats; of North America, Europe, Asia and North Africa wordnet
- 5 Sedges in the genera Bolboschoenus or Schoenoplectus (formerly considered Scirpus), having clusters of spikelets.
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- 6 Any of various reed-like plants growing near water, especially Typha domingensis and Typha orientalis; cumbungi, wonga. Australia
"Explorers Eyre, Kreft, and George Moore all refer to the importance of bulrush starch in different parts of the continent."
Example
More examples"On the margin of ponds and streams we may see, flying from one bulrush to another, certain insects with large transparent wings and abdomen long and slender like a piece of string."
Etymology
From Middle English bulrish, perhaps from bule (“bull”) (in the sense of "large") + rish (“rush”).
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.