rainbow trout

American

noun

a trout, Salmo gairdnerii, native in the coastal waters and streams from Baja California to Alaska, used as a food and game fish.

rainbow trout British

noun

a freshwater trout of North American origin, Salmo gairdneri , having a body marked with many black spots and two longitudinal red stripes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of rainbow trout

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rainbow trout are one of the five species of trout found in New Mexico.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 8, 2023

A few remnant Cutthroat genes in a Rainbow trout population is no substitute for the Cutthroats themselves.

From New York Times • Aug. 14, 2014

Rainbow trout in the 14 to 16 inch range were observed in angler catches on several lakes in the Spokane area, with some fish up into the low 20 inch range.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2010

Rainbow trout, introduced into the UK, is a case in point.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2010

Rainbow trout were in the fashion then, and 300 pounds worth of them were promptly introduced.

From Lines in Pleasant Places Being the Aftermath of an Old Angler by Senior, William

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023