bulrush
bulrush Lexical Profile
bulrush Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A tall wetland plant with long, flat leaves and a distinctive, dark brown, sausage-shaped flowering head; known elsewhere as a cattail.
"The children gathered bulrushes from the marshy banks of the river to use in their autumn display."
North American Any of various tall, grass-like sedges of the genus Scirpus or related genera, typically found growing in wetlands, marshes, or shallow water.
"The conservationists planted bulrushes along the edge of the pond to prevent soil erosion and provide habitat for nesting waterfowl."
The papyrus plant, most famously referenced in the biblical story of the infant Moses being hidden in a basket woven from its stems.
"According to the Book of Exodus, Jochebed placed her son in an ark of bulrushes to save him from the Pharaoh's decree."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British English, 'bulrush' commonly refers to the cattail or reedmace (Typha), whereas in botanical and North American contexts, it strictly refers to sedges of the genus Scirpus or related wetland plants.
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'bulrysche', a combination of the prefix 'bul-' (from 'bull', used to denote something large or coarse) and 'rysche' (rush).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.