4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Rainbow  \Rain"bow`\,  n.  [AS.  regenboga  akin  to  G.  regenbogen 
  See  {Rain},  and  {Bow}  anything  bent,] 
  A  bow  or  arch  exhibiting,  in  concentric  bands,  the  several 
  colors  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. 
 
  Note:  Besides  the  ordinary  bow,  called  also  primary  rainbow, 
  which  is  formed  by  two  refractions  and  one  reflection, 
  there  is  also  another  often  seen  exterior  to  it  called 
  the  secondary  rainbow,  concentric  with  the  first  and 
  separated  from  it  by  a  small  interval.  It  is  formed  by 
  two  refractions  and  two  reflections,  is  much  fainter 
  than  the  primary  bow,  and  has  its  colors  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}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  bright-colored  trout 
  ({Salmoirideus}),  native  of  the  mountains  of  California, 
  but  now  extensively  introduced  into  the  Eastern  States. 
  Japan,  and  other  countries;  --  called  also  {brook  trout}, 
  {mountain  trout},  and  {golden  trout}. 
 
  {Rainbow  wrasse}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  under  {Wrasse}. 
 
  {Supernumerary  rainbow},  a  smaller  bow,  usually  of  red  and 
  green  colors  only,  sometimes  seen  within  the  primary  or 
  without  the  secondary  rainbow,  and  in  contact  with  them 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  rainbow 
  n  :  an  arc  of  colored  light  in  the  sky  caused  by  refraction  of 
  the  sun's  rays  by  rain 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Rainbow,  CA  (CDP,  FIPS  59248) 
  Location:  33.40520  N,  117.14748  W 
  Population  (1990):  2006  (727  housing  units) 
  Area:  41.6  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Rainbow,  TX 
  Zip  code(s):  76077 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Rainbow 
  caused  by  the  reflection  and  refraction  of  the  rays  of  the  sun 
  shining  on  falling  rain.  It  was  appointed  as  a  witness  of  the 
  divine  faithfulness  (Gen.  9:12-17).  It  existed  indeed  before 
  but  it  was  then  constituted  as  a  sign  of  the  covenant.  Others 
  however  (as  Delitzsch  Commentary  on  Pentateuch),  think  that  it 
  "appeared  then  for  the  first  time  in  the  vault  and  clouds  of 
  heaven."  It  is  argued  by  those  holding  this  opinion  that  the 
  atmosphere  was  differently  constituted  before  the  Flood.  It  is 
  referred  to  three  other  times  in  Scripture  (Ezek.  1:27,  28;  Rev. 
  4:1-3;  10:1). 
 

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