# petrel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈpɛt.ɹəl/ · frequency rank #74,393

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

## Etymology
From earlier pitteral. Perhaps a diminutive of Peter, with reference to St. Peter's walking on the water (Matthew 14:29).
A derivation from patter or pitter-patter has been suggested, for instance by ornithologist Elliott Ladd Coues.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/petrel