crest

Crest is a term that can refer to several different concepts across fields and everyday usage. In heraldry, a crest is a specific element of a coat of arms, typically displayed above the shield or helmet and often depicting a figure or object associated with the bearer. The crest is distinct from the shield and the motto, serving as an identifying symbol rather than the entire arms.

In anatomy and biology, a crest is a raised ridge or elongated feature on bones or on the bodies of some animals. Examples include the iliac crest at the upper edge of the pelvis and the dorsal crests seen in some dinosaurs and mammals. In humans, crests may also refer to ridges on the skull or other bones.

In geography and meteorology, crest denotes the highest point of a hill, wave, or ridge. The term is used to describe the apex of waves in the ocean or the crest of a mountain range, and it is often contrasted with the trough or base.

In everyday use and branding, Crest is a common name for popular consumer products, most notably Crest toothpaste, a line marketed for dental hygiene by Procter & Gamble. The word is also used metaphorically to describe the apex or culmination of something, as in the crest of a wave.