storm petrel

or storm-pet·rel


noun

any of several small, tube-nosed seabirds of the family Hydrobatidae, usually having black or sooty-brown plumage with a white rump.
Compare stormy petrel.

Origin of storm petrel

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example sentences from the Web for storm petrel

  • Like the puffin and the storm-petrel, razor-bills rarely leave the sea except for breeding.

    The Isles of Scilly |Jessie Mothersole

British Dictionary definitions for storm petrel

storm petrel

noun

any small petrel, such as the northern Hydrobates pelagicus, of the family Hydrobatidae, typically having a dark plumage with paler underparts Also called: Mother Carey's chicken, stormy petrel

Word Origin for storm petrel

C19: so named because it was thought to be a harbinger of rough weather