Petrel
/ˈpɛt.rəl/noun
A seabird of the order Procellariiformes, especially one related to shearwaters and storm petrels.
Did you know?The bird’s name is traditionally linked to Saint Peter because petrels seem to run across the ocean surface as if they’re walking on water.
Etymological Timeline
17th Century
English
petrel
“A seabird seen skimming the sea, named by sailors in reference to Saint Peter.”
Late 16th Century
Scottish English
peterel
“An earlier form of the bird name, probably influenced by the association with Saint Peter.”
Biblical Greek
Greek
Petros
“Peter, the apostle; literally “rock” or “stone.””
Biblical Aramaic
Aramaic
Kepha
“Rock, stone; the original name underlying Peter in Christian tradition.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pet-
“To fly, fall, or rush; the source of a different root behind words like feather and petal, not the name Peter.”
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