n. [ F. pétrel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. pe`tros a stone (John i. 42); -- probably so called in allusion to St. Peter's walking on the sea. See Petrify. ] (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging to the family Procellaridæ. 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 ]