# crest

> English word · Noun · IPA /kɹɛst/ · frequency rank #12,027

## Definitions
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. 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.

## Etymology
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” (noun sense 11) stems from a misinterpretation of the heraldic noun sense 4, which specifically refers to the object placed on top of the helm.

## Easily confused with
- **CRT** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crt)
- **CST** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cst)
- **CRS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crs)
- **crew** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crew)
- **cues** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cues)
- **cyst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cyst)
- **Cris** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cris)
- **crit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crit)
- **cross** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cross)
- **crush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crush)
- **cries** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-cries)
- **crews** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crews)
- **crisp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crisp)
- **crust** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crust)
- **Crete** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crete)
- **croft** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-croft)
- **crypt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crypt)
- **Crewe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crewe)
- **Crist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-crist)
- **Croat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/crest-vs-croat)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ccrest`, `cerst`, `cresst`, `crestt`, `crets`, `crrest`, `crset`, `rcest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/crest