\Shear"wa`ter\, n. [Shear + water; cf. G.
wassersherer; -- so called from its running lightly along the
surface of the water.] (Zo["o]l.)
Any one of numerous species of long-winged oceanic birds of
the genus {Puffinus} and related genera. They are allied to
the petrels, but are larger. The Manx shearwater ({P.
Anglorum}), the dusky shearwater ({P. obscurus}), and the
greater shearwater ({P. major}), are well-known species of
the North Atlantic. See {Hagdon}.