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wrasse

(Science: zoology) 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-coloured.

Among the European species are the ballan wrasse (labrus maculatus), the streaked wrasse (L. Lineatus), the red wrasse (L. Mixtus), the comber wrasse (L. Comber), the blue-striped, or cook, wrasse (see peacock fish, under Peacock), the rainbow wrasse (L. Vulgaris), and the seawife.

Origin: W. Gwrachen.