crest

Meaning

Noun

1. The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
2. A tuft, or other natural ornament, growing on an animal's head, for example the comb of a cockerel, the swelling on the head of a snake, the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc.
3. The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on or displayed on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet.
4. A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually on a helmet above it, sometimes (as for clerics) separately above the shield or separately as a mark for plate, in letterheads, and the like.
5. The upper curve of a horse's neck.
6. The ridge or top of a wave.
7. The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage.
8. The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof, canopy, etc.
9. The top line of a slope or embankment.
10. A ridge along the surface of a bone.
11. (informal) A design or logo, especially one of an institution, sports club, association or high-class family.
12. Any of several birds in the family Regulidae, including the goldcrests and firecrests.

Verb

1. (intransitive) Particularly with reference to waves, to reach a peak.
2. (transitive) To reach the crest of (e.g. a hill or mountain).
3. (transitive) To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.
4. (transitive) To mark with lines or streaks like waving plumes.

Synonyms

comb

top

🔝

ridge

summit

crown

👑

peak

coat of arms

apex

tip

plume

topknot

tuft

cap

brow

cockscomb

tiara

diadem

climax

acme

culmination

tuft of hair

vertex

tiptop

chaplet

point

mane

culminate

coxcomb

brush

corona

cornice

coping

helmet

cop

👮

broom

🧹

backbone

head-dress

hat

👒

brooch

hard surface

fluctuation

flower

🌸

flood tide

headdress

coat

🧥

height

blazon

heyday

high

amplitude

Translations

crête

cresta

cresta

Kamm

crista

cresta

kam

cimiero

Wellenkamm

Haube

huppe

cimier

Wappen

Scheitelpunkt

armoiries

Pronounced as (IPA)

/kɹɛst/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: creste

Inherited from Old English: cræsta

In summary

From Middle English creste, from Old French creste (modern French crête) and perhaps continuing Old English cræsta (“crest, tuft, plume”); both ultimately from Vulgar Latin *cresta, from Latin crista. Doublet of crista.
The informal meaning “design, logo” (sense 11) stems from a misinterpretation of the heraldic sense 4, which specifically refers to the object placed on top of the helm.