quetzal

[ ket-sahl ]

/ kɛtˈsɑl /

noun, plural quet·zals, quet·za·les [ket-sah-leys] /kɛtˈsɑ leɪs/.

any of several large Central and South American trogons of the genus Pharomachrus, having golden-green and scarlet plumage, especially P. mocino (resplendent quetzal), the national bird of Guatemala: rare and possibly endangered.

a paper money and monetary unit of Guatemala, equal to 100 centavos. Abbreviation: Q.

Nearby words

questionmaster, questionnaire, questor, quetsch, quetta, quetzal, quetzalcoatl, quetzaltenango, queue, queue fourché, queue-jump

Also que·zal

[ke-sahl] /kɛˈsɑl/.

Origin of quetzal

1820–30; < American Spanish < Nahuatl quetzalli plumage of the quetzal bird

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for quetzal

And as to Quetzal,—I accept the doom of my country,—into the heart of his divinity I cast my spear!
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
If Quetzal was the pabas idol in religion, she was his idol in affection.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
In all his dominions, there was not one whom faith more inclined to absolute fear of Quetzal than himself.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace
Have you not told me that Quetzal is good, and that his voice is like the fountains, and that when he speaks it is like singing?
The Fair God|Lew Wallace

If you do indeed believe me the beloved of Quetzal and his prophet, then are you bold,—even for a king.
The Fair God|Lew Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for quetzal

quetzal

quezal (kɛˈsɑːl)

/ (ˈkɛtsəl) /

noun plural -zals or -zales (-ˈsɑːlɛs)

Also called: resplendent trogon a crested bird, Pharomachrus mocinno, of Central and N South America, which has a brilliant green, red, and white plumage and, in the male, long tail feathers: family Trogonidae, order Trogoniformes (trogons)

the standard monetary unit of Guatemala, divided into 100 centavos

Word Origin for quetzal

via American Spanish from Nahuatl quetzalli brightly coloured tail feather

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for quetzal

quetzal

central American bird with brilliant plumage, 1827, from Spanish quetzal, from Aztec quetzalli the bird name, literally "tail-feather."