Main Entry: quet·zal

Pronunciation: \ket-ˈsäl, -ˈsal\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural quetzals or quet·za·les \-ˈsä-(ˌ)lās, -ˈsa-\

Etymology: American Spanish, from Nahuatl quetzalli tail coverts of the quetzal

Date: 1827

1 : a Central American trogon (Pharomachrus mocinno) that has brilliant green plumage above, a red breast, and in the male long upper tail coverts
2 plural quetzales — see money table

[quetzal illustration]