Definition of crest
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: a showy tuft or process on the head of an animal and especially a bird — see bird illustration
b
: the plume or identifying emblem worn on a knight's helmet
also
: the top of a helmet
c(1)
: a heraldic representation of the crest
(2)
: a heraldic device depicted above the escutcheon (see escutcheon sense 1) but not upon a helmet
(3)
: coat of arms sense 2a
d
: a ridge or prominence on a part of an animal body
2
: something suggesting a crest especially in being an upper prominence, edge, or limit: such as
b
: the ridge of a roof
c
: the top of a wave
3a
: a high point of an action or process and especially of one that is rhythmic
b
: climax, culmination
at the crest of his fame
crest
verb
crested; cresting; crests
Definition of crest (Entry 2 of 2)
2
: to reach the crest of
crested the hill and looked around
: to rise to a crest
waves cresting in the storm
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of crest was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century