Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

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.