Mother Carey's chicken

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

It is known to every English sailor by the name of Mother Carey's chicken.

From Wanderings in South America by Waterton, Charles

"Ay, and ye see Mother Carey's chicken yonder," said Danny, pointing where the stormy petrel was scudding close to a white wave and uttering a dismal cry.

From She's All the World to Me by Caine, Hall, Sir

“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

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