bull rush

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a direct forceful rush by a defensive player in football

bull-rush

ˈbu̇l-ˌrəsh 

also ˈbəl-

verb

bulrush

2 of 2

noun (2)

bul·​rush ˈbu̇l-ˌrəsh 

variants or less commonly bullrush

: any of several large rushes or sedges growing in wetlands: such as

a

: any of various annual or perennial sedges (genera Scirpus and Schoenoplectus) that bear solitary or much-clustered spikelets containing perfect flowers with a perianth of six bristles

b

British : either of two cattails (Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia)

c

: papyrus

Examples of bull rush in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Young is known to win with bull rush and heavy hands and play with extreme effort on every snap. —Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026

Rangy with a strong bull rush but not speedy. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026

Noun

The insulation is made from bulrushes grown on rewetted peatlands, a process known as paludiculture—essentially, farming wetlands rather than draining them. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 30 Apr. 2026

In natural lakes, good cover includes the rhizomes (root systems) of white water lily or open cavities within curtains of hardstem bulrush. —Cory Schmidt, Outdoor Life, 15 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English bulrysche

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1976, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bull rush

• airbrush
• hairbrush
• inrush
• onrush
• paintbrush
• sagebrush
• blush
• brush
• crush
• flush
• gush
• hush