Petrel

(Synop., § 130), n. [Written also peterel.] [Diminutive of Peter; probably so called in allusion to St. Peter’s walking on the sea; Fr. pétrel, Sp. petrel.] (Ornith.) A long-winged, web-footed sea-fowl, of the Linnæan genus Procellaria. The arctic petrel is P. glacialis. The stormy petrel is P. pelagica of Linnæus;—called also Mother Carey’s chicken.