ˈpe.trəl sometimes ˈpē.- noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of earlier pitteral, perhaps irregular from St. Peter died A.D.67? disciple of Jesus; from the gospel account of St. Peter's walking on the sea (Mt 14:29)
1. : any of numerous sea birds constituting the families Procellariidae and Hydrobatidae ; especially : any of various small to medium-sized long-winged birds that fly far from land, feed on small surface-swimming creatures and refuse from ships, breed in burrows and crevices in rocks and cliffs usually on islands, and have a plumage chiefly dark but sometimes with white areas near the rump — see diving petrel , giant petrel , mother carey's chicken , storm petrel
2. : storm petrel