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crest |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Financial, Acronyms, Idioms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.13 sec. |
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crest, in feudal livery, an ornament of the headpiece that afforded protection against a blow. The term is incorrectly used to mean family coat of arms. Crests were widely used in the 13th cent. by feudal chiefs, as they had been by ancient Greek warriors and the Roman centurions. The earlier forms were usually of stuffed leather, gilded, silvered, or painted; later they were of wood or metal. The crest came to be used in heraldry heraldry, system in which inherited symbols, or devices, called charges are displayed on a shield, or escutcheon, for the purpose of identifying individuals or families. ..... Click the link for more information. , first only by persons of high rank, then by all those entitled to a coat of arms. It surmounts the escutcheon; its colors are those of the coat of arms. The dragon, wivern, and plume of feathers are common crests. The lion, used by Edward III of England, remains the crest of the English sovereigns. See also blazonry blazonry (blā`zənrē), science of describing or depicting armorial bearings. ..... Click the link for more information. . crest 1. a tuft or growth of feathers, fur, or skin along the top of the heads of some birds, reptiles, and other animals 2. a ridge on the neck of a horse, dog, lion, etc. 3. the mane or hair growing from this ridge 4. a ridge along the surface of a bone 5. Archery identifying rings painted around an arrow shaft How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Detached groups of horsemen are well in front - not altogether exposed - many of them intently regarding the crest of a hill a mile away in the direction of the interrupted advance. Hence she obtained her crest, which is popularly said to be her father's grave-hillock. Around and over it whirled, this way and that, and a few moments later the chicken-coop dropped far away into the sea, where the big waves caught it and slid it up-hill to a foaming crest and then down-hill into a deep valley, as if it were nothing more than a plaything to keep them amused. |
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