Any of several brightly coloured wrasses; especially Coris julis of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, the male of which has an orange-red zigzag line along the side.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Yarrell (1784–1856), zoologist.
Definition of rainbow wrasse in US English:
rainbow wrasse
noun
Any of several brightly coloured wrasses; especially Coris julis of the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, the male of which has an orange-red zigzag line along the side.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William Yarrell (1784–1856), zoologist.