Yes, that’s the correct word. No, not ‘rainbow’, but ‘rainband’.
So what is it? I hear you ask.
[Great question! she replies, grinning widely.]
According to my Macquarie Dictionary, a rainband (noun) is a dark band in the solar spectrum, due to water-vapour in the atmosphere.
Huh!
Ten minutes ago, I never knew this word existed. But sitting here at my messy desk, dictionary on my lap and curiosity in my mind, I’ve just discovered that something I’m sure I’ve seen many times in my life before, boasts its very own name.
Well, that makes sense. Most things are named, aren’t they? That’s how we can communicate about them. It reminds me that the Eskimos have many words (apparently!) describing ice and snow – as opposed to the two I would commonly use.
It’s a pretty cool feeling, discovering words. I wonder if I could somehow be influential into making them more popular. Or would my usage of these words I’d newly discovered just be taken as bragging? Would I be seen to be preening with my new-found knowledge?
And does that even matter?
Only one way to find out, I guess…
Have a great day, dear Reader! And look out for a rainbands 🙂
— KRidwyn
[Image of rainband courtesy Wikipedia, retrieved 1 May, 2017]