quetzal

noun

quet·zal ket-ˈsäl -ˈsal

plural quetzals also quetzales ket-ˈsä-(ˌ)lās

-ˈsa-

or less commonly quetzal bird : any of several Central American trogons (genus Pharomachrus) that have brilliant green plumage above, a red breast, and in the males long upper tail coverts

plural usually quetzales : the basic monetary unit of Guatemala see Money Table

Examples of quetzal in a Sentence

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Lee’s mad dash was the rarest of quetzal feathers in an otherwise drab capper to the four-game series. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026 In addition to the quetzal, look for pairs of scarlet macaws flying over the Osa Peninsula. — AFAR Media, 8 July 2025 Tiny butterflies, identifiable by species, flit among blooming epiphytes; red-breasted meadowlarks take to the air; an emerald-green quetzal perches on a branch. — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 June 2026 Morning light filters through cloud forests along the Lost Waterfalls Trail—where mossy stones lead to hidden cascades and flashes of quetzal wings. — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quetzal

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, from Nahuatl quetzalli tail coverts of the quetzal

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of quetzal was in 1800

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Quetta

quetzal

Quetzalcoatl

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Style

“Quetzal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quetzal. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

quetzal

noun

quet·zal ket-ˈsäl -ˈsal

plural quetzals or quetzales -ˈsäl-ās

: a brightly colored Central American bird with green feathers, a red breast, and in the male tail feathers often over two feet (60 centimeters) in length

quetzal

noun

Illustration of quetzal

Examples of quetzal in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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