The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.
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.