quetzal

Where does the word "quetzal" come from? It comes from Nahuatl quetzalli, passing through Spanish before entering English (1800s).

Quetzal’s story begins in Nahuatl: quetzalli meant “a brilliant tail feather.” Meaning "large brilliant tail feather". By 1500s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as quetzal. Aztec rulers wore quetzal tail feathers; the god Quetzalcoatl is the 'feathered serpent'. It reached English by 1800s as quetzal. Guatemala's currency and national bird is the quetzal. Today, quetzal means a brightly colored tropical bird native to Central America, with long tail feathers.

1. Stage 1 · Nahuatl · pre-1500s quetzalli "a brilliant tail feather", meaning "large brilliant tail feather".
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1500s-1600s quetzal "the quetzal bird", Aztec rulers wore quetzal tail feathers; the god Quetzalcoatl is the 'feathered serpent'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s quetzal "a brightly colored Central American bird", Guatemala's currency and national bird is the quetzal.