Lat. crista; It. cresta;) in armoury, the plume or other ornament on the top of the casque or helmet.

In ancient times warriors wore crests composed of the spoils of animals they had killed, in order to strike terror into their enemies; or to render their men the more formidable, by making them appear taller and fiercer.

At jousts and tournaments, the cavaliers wore plumes of feathers for their crests, especially those of the ostrich and the heron. These tufts were called plumarts, and were placed in tubes on the tops of their bonnets. Some had crests of leather; others of parchment, pasteboard, &c., painted or varnished; others of steel, wood, &c., on which was sometimes represented a member or ordinary of the coat, as an eagle, fleur-de-lis, &c.; but never any of those called honourable ordinaries, as pale, fesse, &c. The crests were changeable at pleasure; being reputed merely an arbitrary device or ornament.

Herodotus attributes the origin of crests to the Carians, who first bore feathers on their casques, and painted figures on their bucklers; whence the Persians called them cocks.

The crest is esteemed a greater criterion of gentility than the armour itself, as being borne at tournaments, to which none were admitted until they had given proof of their nobility. Sometimes it serves to distinguish the several branches of a family. It has also been employed, on occasion, as the distinguishing badge of factions. Sometimes the crest is taken from the device; but more usually it is formed of some piece of the arms.

In Heraldry, it denotes a figure placed upon a wreath, coronet, or cap of maintenance, above both helmet and shield,—being the highest part of the ornaments of a coat-of-arms. See HERALDRY.