the goddess of the rainbow, and swift-footed messenger of the gods.-the rainbow.-an appearance resembling the rainbow; a prismatic play of colors.-the contractile membrane perforated by the pupil, and forming the colored portion of the eye. see eye.-a genus of plants having showy flowers and bulbous or tuberous roots, of which the flower-de-luce (fleur-de-lis), orris, and other species of flag are examples. see illust. of flower-de-luce.-see fleur-de-lis, 2.