scirpus (sometimes sirpus), i, m.
I A rush , bulrush , Plin. 16, 37, 70, § 178; 7, 56, 57, § 206; Fest. p. 330 Müll.; Plaut. Rud. 2, 6, 39; Vulg. Job, 8, 11. —
b Prov.: nodum in scirpo quaerere, to seek a knot in a bulrush , to find a difficulty where there is none : quaerunt in scirpo, soliti quod dicere, nodum, Enn. ap. Fest. p. 330 (Sat. v. 46 Vahl.); so, in scirpo nodum quaeris, Plaut. Men. 2, 1, 22; and: no dum in scirpo quaeris, Ter. And. 941.—
II Transf., deriving the idea of intricacy from plaited work of rushes, a riddle , enigma : quae Graeci dicunt aenigmata, hoc genus quidam e nostris veteribus scirpos appellaverunt, Gell. 12, 6, 1.