quetzal
[ket-sahl]
- 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.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for quetzal
Historical Examples
The lion and the tiger roared, and the first bird that sang was the Quetzal.
The Stories of El DoradoFrona Eunice Wait
Would you have me believe all this from Quetzal, show me something that is to come.
The Fair GodLew Wallace
The revelation of Mualox was prophecy here confirmed,—Quetzal was coming!
The Fair GodLew Wallace
You have described a god; it is Quetzal, the holy, beautiful Quetzal!
The Fair GodLew Wallace
If Quetzal was the pabas idol in religion, she was his idol in affection.
The Fair GodLew Wallace
quetzal
quezal (kɛˈsɑːl)
- 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
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Word Origin
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
n.
central American bird with brilliant plumage, 1827, from Spanish quetzal, from Aztec quetzalli the bird name, literally "tail-feather."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper