Petrel

Definitions

Any of various species of black, grey, or white seabirds in the order Procellariiformes.

Equivalents

Examples

“The seventh of May following, we first saw⟳ many Birds in bignesse of Cliffe Pidgeons, and after divers other as Pettrels, Cootes, Hagbuts, Pengwins, Murres, Gannets, Cormorants, Guls, with many else in our English Tongue of no name⟳.”

“In a storm they will hover close⟳ under the ship's stern in the wake⟳ of the ship (as it is called) or the smoothness which the ship's passing has made on the sea; and there as they fly⟳ (gently then) they pat the water alternately with their feet as if they walked upon it; though still upon the wing. And from hence the seamen give⟳ them the name⟳ of petrels in allusion to St. Peter's walking upon the Lake of Gennesareth.”

CEFR level