A
bow or
arch exhibiting, in
concentric bands, the different colours of the spectrum, and
formed in the
part of the
hemisphere opposite to the sun by the
refraction and
reflection of the sun's rays in
drops of
falling rain.
Besides the
usual bow, called
also primary rainbow, which is
formed by
two refractions and one reflection,
there is
also other often seen
exterior to it, called the
secondary rainbow,
concentric with the first, and separated from it by a
little interval. It is
formed by
two refractions and
two reflections, is
many fainter than the primary bow, and has its colours arranged in the
reverse order from those of the latter. Lunar rainbow, a fainter
arch or rainbow,
formed by the moon. Marine rainbow, or Sea bow, a
similar bow seen in the
spray of waves at sea.
Rainbow trout See Wrasse. Supernumerary rainbow, a less bow, generally of red and green colours only, sometimes seen within the primary or without the secondary rainbow, and in contact with them.
Origin: AS. Regenboga, akin to G. Regenbogen. See Rain, and Bow anything bent.
Source: Websters Vocabulary