wrasse

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

wrasse, n. [W. gwrachen.].

 Any one of numerous edible, marine, spiny-finned fishes of the genus Labrus, of which several species are found in the Mediterranean and on the Atlantic coast of Europe. Many of the species are bright-colored.  [1913 Webster]
" Among the European species are the ballan wrasse (Labrus maculatus), the streaked wrasse (Labrus lineatus), the red wrasse (Labrus mixtus), the comber wrasse (Labrus comber), the blue-striped, or cook, wrasse (see Peacock fish, under Peacock), the rainbow wrasse (Labrus vulgaris), and the seawife."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

wrasse, n. any bright-coloured marine fish of the family Labridae with thick lips and strong teeth.

Etymology

Corn. wrach, var. of gwrach, = Welsh gwrach, lit. 'old woman'