Pettarr is the older form, Gd. 19, 34, Bs. i. 616; Pettars messa, K. Þ. K. (Kb.) 39; dat. Pettari, Clem. 55; else Petur or Pétr, Fb. iii. 459; in earlier times (the 12th and 13th century) this name is very rare, see the list of pr. names to Landn., Sturl., and Bs., but became in Icel. more freq. in the 15th and following centuries: Pettars-m., see messa: Pétrs-blað, a picture of St. Peter, Pm. 126; Pétrs-fé, Peter’s pence, 45; Pétrs-kirkja, St. Peter’s church, Vm. 21; Pétrs-kýr, St. Peter’s cow, id.: Pétrs-nautr, see nautr; Pétrs-nál, see nál: Pétrs-stóll, -sæti, St. Peter’s chair, cathedra Petri, Rb. 372, MS. 625. 60, 61; Pétrs-tollr, St. Peter’s tithe, 671. 18; Pétrs-vaka, St. Peter’s eve, Vm. 21, Fms. viii. 122.

II. plants and birds with names from St. Peter; Pétrs-budda, u, f., or Pétrs-skip, n. a fish, St. Peters purse or ship = pulvinar marinum, Eggert Itin. ch. 897: Pétrs-kofa, u, f. a bird, colymbus grylla: Pétrs-mold, f. a kind of earth: Pétrs-sóley, f., botan. dryas octopetala: Pétrs-urt, f. apargia autumnalis; Pétrs-vaðsteinn, m. = ovarium onisci; also óska-björn (q. v.), Maurer’s Volks., Björn. For legends referring to St. Peter see Maurer 190.