- Oceanodroma
- Petrel Pe"trel, n. [F. p['e]trel; a dim. of the name Peter, L.
Petrus, Gr. ? a stone (--John i. 42); -- probably so called
in allusion to St. Peter's walking on the sea. See
{Petrify}.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging
to the family {Procellarid[ae]}. The small petrels, or Mother
Carey's chickens, belong to {{Oceanites}}, {{Oceanodroma}},
{{Procellaria}}, and several allied genera.
[1913 Webster]
{Diving petrel}, any bird of the genus {Pelecanoides}. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere.
{Fulmar petrel}, {Giant petrel}. See {Fulmar}.
{Pintado petrel}, the Cape pigeon. See under {Cape}.
{Pintado petrel}, any one of several small petrels, especially {Procellaria pelagica}, or Mother Carey's chicken, common on both sides of the Atlantic. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
