stormy petrel
- noun
- /ˈstɔrmi ˈpɛtrəl/
:
pájaro de tormenta
- A stormy petrel darted over the crests of the waves as the wind picked up.
Examples
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Many sailors consider the stormy petrel a sign of approaching rough weather.
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Many stormy petrels migrate to warmer waters in winter.
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The biography described him as a political stormy petrel, always stirring trouble.
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The stormy petrel is often seen during rough weather.
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Many sailors consider the stormy petrel a sign of approaching rough weather.
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A stormy petrel darted over the crests of the waves as the wind picked up.
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The stormy petrel is often seen during rough weather.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small seabird that flies low over the sea and often appears before storms
A small black sea bird with white marks that flies low over waves
A small black bird with white marks that lives in northern seas like the Atlantic and Mediterranean
A small seabird that flies low over the sea, often near storms
A small seabird with dark feathers and pale belly that flies over the sea near storms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun is a straightforward descriptive compound: 'stormy' (relating to storms) modifies 'petrel' (a seabird), so the meaning of a seabird associated with stormy conditions is directly derivable from its parts. This literal, descriptive composition follows normal compounding patterns and would be understandable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The name stormy petrel comes from a small seabird, the petrel, that flies low over the waves during storms and often appears before bad weather. Sailors saw the bird as 'a sign of trouble', so people began to call someone a stormy petrel when they 'stir up trouble' or seem to warn of bad times.