magnificent bird of Central America with brilliant plumage, 1827, from Spanish quetzal, from Nahuatl (Aztecan) quetzalli, "tail-feather." The full bird name in Nahuatl was quetzaltototl, with tototl "bird."
Entries linking to quetzal
Quetzalcoatl n.
plumed serpent god of the Toltecs and Aztecs, 1570s, Quecalcouatl, from Nahuatl (Aztecan) quetzalli (see quetzal) + coatl "snake."