chachalaca
[ chah-chuh-lah-kuh; Spanish chah-chah-lah-kah ]
/ ˌtʃɑ tʃəˈlɑ kə; Spanish ˌtʃɑ tʃɑˈlɑ kɑ /
noun, plural cha·cha·la·cas [chah-chuh-lah-kuhz; Spanish chah-chah-lah-kahs]. /ˌtʃɑ tʃəˈlɑ kəz; Spanish ˌtʃɑ tʃɑˈlɑ kɑs/.
any of several slender guans of the genus Ortalis, of Central America, Mexico, and southern Texas, having loud, harsh cries.
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Origin of chachalaca
1850–55, Americanism;<Mexican Spanish <Nahuatl: to chatter, especially of birds; compare Nahuatl chachalacametl the chachalaca
Words nearby chachalaca
chabouk, Chabrier, Chabrol, cha-cha, cha-cha-cha, chachalaca, chachka, chackle, chacma, Chaco, Chacoan peccary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020