quetzales

Variant of quetzal

noun

  1. a crested trogon bird (Pharomachrus mocinno) of Central America, usually brilliant green above and red below, with long, streaming tail feathers in the male
  2. pl. quetzales the basic monetary unit of Guatemala

Origin: AmSp < Nahuatl quetzaltototl < quetzalli, tail feather + tototls, bird

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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