Defn: Of or pertaining to to rock. G. S. Faber.
PETREL
Pe"trel, n. Etym: [F. pétrel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus,
Gr. John i.42); — probably so called in allusion to St.Peter's
walking on the sea. See Petrify.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of numerous species of longwinged sea birds belonging to the family Procellaridæ. The small petrels, or Mother Carey's chickens, belong to Oceanites, Oceanodroma, Procellaria, and several allied genera. Diving petrel, any bird of the genus Pelecanoides. They chiefly inhabit the southern hemisphere. — Fulmar petrel, Giant petrel. See Fulmar. — Pintado petrel, the Cape pigeon. See under Cape. — Pintado petrel, any one of several small petrels, especially Procellaria pelagica, or Mother Carey's chicken, common on both sides of the Atlantic.
PETRESCENCE
Pe*tres"cence, n.
Defn: The process of changing into stone; petrification.
PETRESCENT
Pe*tres"cent, a. Etym: [L. petra rock, stone, Gr.
Defn: Petrifying; converting into stone; as, petrescent water. Boyle.
PETRIFACTION
Pet`ri*fac"tion, n. Etym: [See Petrify.]
1. The process of petrifying, or changing into stone; conversion of any organic matter (animal or vegetable) into stone, or a substance of stony hardness.
2. The state or condition of being petrified.