crista Latin · revision 5352
16 Oct 2026, 02:20 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Lucretius|origins=itc-pro *kristā-}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkrɪs.ta]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkris.ta]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''crista''' ''f'' (genitive cristae); first declension^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*kristā-]], from [[ine-pro|*kris-th₂-]], from the same stem *kris- “crest, plume, hair” as [[crīnis]] “hair” and [[crispus]] “curly”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary traces it to the root *(s)ker- “to turn, bend”.^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Lucretius,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) who describes lions shaking the terrifying crests of their heads.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It was the crest on the head of a bird or beast, especially a cock's comb, and the plume or crest of a helmet.^(OLD 2012) Juvenal's ''illī surgēbant cristae'' “his crest rose” described someone puffed up with pride.^(Gaffiot 2016) Pliny uses it of a plant, probably yellow rattle.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ The ''Appendix Probi'' corrects ''crysta'' to ''crista''.^(Appendix Probi) In medieval Latin it was the ridge of a mountain or a roof, a battlement, and an ornament on a tomb.^(Niermeyer 1976) [[en|crest]] came through Old French ''creste'', first of a helmet in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline) It survives in [[it|cresta]] and [[fr|crête]].^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius describes lions shaking their crests.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of a cock's comb.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal speaks of a man's crest rising.^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * early 14th century – English ''crest'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Noun===
+ # A [[m|en|crest]], comb (of a bird or beast).^(OLD 2012)
+ # The plume or crest of a [[m|en|helmet]].^(OLD 2012)
+ # A plant, probably yellow rattle.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A ridge (of a mountain or roof); a battlement.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[cristātus]]
+ * [[cristula]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[crīnis]]
+ * [[crispus]]
+ * [[en|crest]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}