wrasse

[ ras ]

noun

1. any of various marine fishes of the family Labridae, especially of the genus Labrus, having thick, fleshy lips, powerful teeth, and usually a brilliant color, certain species being valued as food fishes.

wrasse

/ ræs /

noun

1. any marine percoid fish of the family Labridae, of tropical and temperate seas, having thick lips, strong teeth, and usually a bright coloration: many are used as food fishes

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrasse¹

1665–75; apparently originally a plural of dial. (Cornwall) wrah, wraugh, wrath < Cornish wragh, lenited form of gwragh literally, old woman, hag; compare Welsh gwrach ( en ), Breton gwrac’h, also with both senses

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrasse¹

C17: from Cornish wrach; related to Welsh gwrach old woman

Example Sentences

“That is quite a bit of biodiversity,” says Tea, who notes that new fairy wrasse species are identified every year.

From Science News

Comparing DNA across species, the researchers reconstructed an evolutionary tree, showing how the dozens of fairy wrasse species are interrelated.

From Science News

Fairy wrasses diverged from other wrasses about 12 million years ago in the Miocene Epoch, the researchers found.

From Science News

Fairy wrasses are swimming jewels, flitting and flouncing about coral reefs.

From Science News

The rising and falling seas could act like a “species pump,” Tea explains, creating new fairy wrasse species and churning them out into the world every time the barrier dissolved.

From Science News

Common British species are the ballan-wrasse, the red wrasse, and the gibbous wrasse.

From Project Gutenberg

The wrasse brought from dangerous Syrtis is much more esteemed When fishing-boats founder!

From Project Gutenberg

The Wrasse has been retaken after a considerable period; therefore it is not dead.

From Project Gutenberg

Wrasse From Sicily brought to their table, alive in his own Sea water.

From Project Gutenberg