Mother Carey's hen

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Definition

Noun 1. A medium-sized storm petrel: "Mother Carey's hen" is a traditional sailors' name for a type of seabird, specifically a storm petrel, belonging to the family Hydrobatidae. The term is used to refer to certain species, often seen flying over the ocean, especially in stormy weather.

Usage
  • The term is used as a common name for the bird, often in nautical or literary contexts.
  • It is typically used in singular form but can refer to the species collectively.
Examples
  • The old sailor claimed that seeing a Mother Carey's hen was a sign of an approaching storm.
  • We watched the Mother Carey's hen skimming the waves with its distinctive flight pattern.
  • Mother Carey's hen is known for its ability to walk on the water's surface.
Advanced Usage
  • The name is part of sailors' folklore and is often associated with omens or the sea's mystique.
  • In literature, it can be used to evoke a maritime atmosphere or a sense of foreboding.
Variants and Related Words
  • Storm petrel: The more common ornithological term for birds in the family Hydrobatidae, including the species called Mother Carey's hen.
  • Mother Carey's chicken: A variant name sometimes used for smaller storm petrels.
Synonyms
  • Storm petrel: The direct biological synonym.
  • Sea bird: A broader, less specific term.
Notes
  • "Mother Carey" is a corruption of "Mater Cara" (Dear Mother), a reference to the Virgin Mary, whom sailors prayed to for protection. The "hen" refers to the bird.
  • This is a fixed compound noun; the words are always used together in this specific order to name the bird.
Noun
  1. medium-sized storm petrel

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