quetzal

/ket sahl"/, n., pl. quetzals, quetzales /-sah"lays/.

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

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

Also, quezal /ke sahl"/.

[1820-30; < AmerSp < Nahuatl quetzalli plumage of the quetzal bird]

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Any of several tropical arboreal, short-billed, fruit-eating birds (genus Pharomachrus) in the trogon family (Trogonidae), whose weak feet have, uniquely, the second toe directed backward.

It was the sacred bird of the ancient Mayas and Aztecs. Today the quetzal, found in remote parts of cloud forests from southern Mexico to Bolivia, is the national emblem of Guatemala (whose monetary unit is the quetzal). The resplendent, or Guatemalan, quetzal is about 50 in. (125 cm) long. Long blue-green plumes cover the tail; the breast and head, with a rounded hairlike crest, are gold-green; the blue back has a curly gold-tinged mantle; and the belly is red. The quetzal is now listed as endangered.

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      any of several birds belonging to the genus Pharomachrus of the trogon family. See trogon.

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