What does petrel mean?
A petrel is an ocean-going seabird recognizable by its long, narrow wings, hooked bill, and tubular nostrils. The name includes familiar birds such as fulmars and shearwaters and is particularly associated with storm petrels, small dark birds that spend much of their life at sea. A bird seen flying low over rough waves can be conspicuous, and sailors traditionally regarded the storm petrel as a sign that bad weather might be approaching. Consequently, the bird acquired a minor figurative reputation as an ill omen. Today, petrel remains chiefly an ornithological term, used both for individual birds and as part of the names of numerous species. It is especially useful when discussing seabird migration, nesting colonies, and the ecological identification of birds encountered far from land.
nounAny of various ocean-going seabirds with long, narrow wings, a hooked bill, and a characteristic tubenose, including fulmars, shearwaters, and storm petrels. The term is especially associated with the storm petrel, a small dark seabird traditionally associated with rough weather.
- A seabird of the order Procellariiformes, especially a member of the family Procellariidae.
- A storm petrel, especially in the traditional name stormy petrel.
"A petrel circled above the waves as the research vessel sailed into deeper water."
"The offshore island provides nesting sites for several species of petrel."
"In maritime folklore, the stormy petrel was regarded as a portent of bad weather."
Use the plural when referring to more than one bird of this kind.
"Several petrels followed the fishing boat beyond the harbor."
Sailors once treated the storm petrel as an unwelcome visitor whose appearance could herald a gale.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does petrel come from?
The word entered English through medieval Latin and French forms derived from Petrus, the Latin form of the name Peter. Its ultimate Greek source, Petros, means “rock,” although the precise reason for Peter's association with these seabirds is uncertain. The English form was altered over time from an earlier spelling resembling petterel, in which the ending was probably originally a diminutive.
Related word forms
How petrel is actually used
In ornithology, petrel may refer broadly to members of several related tubenose groups, while storm petrels belong to a separate family. The expression stormy petrel can also figuratively describe someone associated with commotion or misfortune, though this literary use may sound old-fashioned.
Easily confused with petrel
A petrel is a seabird, whereas petrol is the fuel used in many internal-combustion engines.