petr

n. [ L. petra stone. Cf. Sp. petraria, and E. Pederero. ] An ancient war engine for hurling stones. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Saltpeter. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. petraeus, Gr. petrai^os, fr. pe`tra a rock. ] Of or pertaining to rock. G. S. Faber. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. pétrel; a dim. of the name Peter, L. Petrus, Gr. pe`tros a stone (John i. 42); -- probably so called in allusion to St. Peter's walking on the sea. See Petrify. ] (Zool.) 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The process of changing into stone; petrification. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. petra rock, stone, Gr. pe`tra. ] Petrifying; converting into stone; as, petrescent water. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state or condition of being petrified. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. That which is petrified; popularly, a body incrusted with stony matter; an incrustation. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Fig.: Hardness; callousness; obduracy. “Petrifaction of the soul.” Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Having the quality of converting organic matter into stone; petrifying. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Pertaining to, or characterized by, petrifaction. [ 1913 Webster ]

The . . . petrifactive mutations of hard bodies. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]