Mother Carey's chicken

American  

[kair-eez] / ˈkɛər iz /

noun

1. any of various small petrels, especially the stormy petrel, Oceanites oceanicus.

---

Mother Carey's chicken British  

/ ˈkɛərɪz /

noun

1. another name for storm petrel

---

Etymology

Origin of Mother Carey's chicken

First recorded in 1760–70; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Mother Carey's chicken

“Here’s a Mother Carey’s chicken come aboard!” cried Sam Weeks, making for the poor tired thing to catch it.

From Afloat at Last A Sailor Boy's Log of his Life at Sea by Overend, William Heysham

I can repeat something, in the fairy-tale style, which was told me by Mother Carey's chicken, when we were waiting for the nestling to grow strong enough for us to make our journey.

From The Cricket's Friends Tales Told by the Cricket, Teapot, and Saucepan by Johnson, Virginia W.

It was significant, this nightcap of Admiral Buzza—as the ram's horn to Jericho, the Mother Carey's chicken to the doomed ship.

From The Astonishing History of Troy Town by Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir

Mother Carey's chicken hovers near when the elements are at strife.

From Romantic Spain A Record of Personal Experiences (Vol. II) by O'Shea, John Augustus

There is another interesting thing about Mother Carey's chicken, and that is, that he is also called petrel, from the Italian 'Petrello,' or Little Peter.

From Storyology Essays in Folk-Lore, Sea-Lore, and Plant-Lore by Taylor, Benjamin