[sheer-waw-ter, -wot-er] 
| any of several long-winged petrels of the genus Puffinus that appear to shear the water with their wing tips when flying low. |
| shear·wa·ter (shîr'wô'tər, -wŏt'ər) n. Any of various oceanic birds of the genus Puffinus, having a short hooked bill with tube-shaped nostrils and long slender wings that appear to shear the water as the bird flies along the surface. |
tər