LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
noun · femininefirst declension

crista1

crista f (genitive cristae)
Classical[ˈkrɪs.ta]Ecclesiastical[ˈkris.ta]

Meaning

  1. femininethe crest, the plume
    Crista galeae.The plume of a helmet.
    Galea decora comanti cristae.An helmet decorated with a plumed crest.
  2. femininethe comb or tuft on the head of animals (most frequently of a rooster or a cock)
    Illi surgunt cristae.He carries his head high.
    Crista galli.The comb of a rooster.
  3. femininethe tuft of leaves on plants
    Crista foliorum.The tuft of the leaves.
  4. femininethe clitoris

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativecristacristae
genitivecristaecristārum
dativecristaecristīs
accusativecristamcristās
ablativecristācristīs
vocativecristacristae

crista, ae, f. cf. cer- in cerebrum, pro-ceres, = cel- in excello.
I. Prop., a tuft on the head of animals; most freq. of the comb of a cock, Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 4 and 5; Plin. 10, 56, 77, § 156; Juv. 13, 233 al.; of a lapwing, Ov. M. 6, 672; Plin. 10, 29, 44, § 86; of a serpent, Ov. M. 7, 150; 15, 669; Plin. 11, 37, 44, § 122.—Prov.: illi surgunt cristae, his crest rises, he carries his head high, i. e. he is conceited, Juv. 4, 70.—
II. Transf.
A. A tuft of leaves on plants: foliorum, Plin. 22, 22, 43, § 86: crista galli or absol. crista, the name of a plant, = alectoros lophos, the cock's comb, id. 27, 5, 23, § 40.—
B. The crest of a helmet, plume, Lucr. 2, 633; Liv. 10, 39, 12; Plin. 7, 56, 57, § 200; Verg. A. 3, 468; 6, 779 et saep.—*
C. The clitoris, Juv. 6, 422.

Origins

From Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). Cognate with crinis (“hair”), crispus (“curly”). Compare Ancient Greek κόρση (kórsē, “temple (anatomy)”).

Elsewhere
  • Italiancresta
  • Frenchcrêtefrom Old French creste
  • Englishcrestfrom Old French creste
  • Portuguesecristafrom Old Galician-Portuguese crista
  • Englishcrista
  • Spanishcrista
  • Emiliancrassta
  • Old Englishcræsta
  • Wallooncressefrom Old French creste
  • Scotscreestfrom Old French creste
Old Occitan
  • Catalancresta
  • Occitancresta
Eastern Romance
  • Romaniancreastă
  • Aromaniancreastã
  • Megleno-Romaniancreastă
Old Spanish
  • Spanishcresta
Rhaeto-Romance
  • Friuliancreste
  • Romanshcresta
proper noun · masculinefirst declension
Crista2
Crista m sg (genitive Cristae)
Classical[ˈkrɪs.ta]Ecclesiastical[ˈkris.ta]

Meaning

  1. masculinesingularA Latin surname

Declension

declension
formsingularplural
nominativeCrista—
genitiveCristae—
dativeCristae—
accusativeCristam—
ablativeCristā—
vocativeCrista—

Crista, ae, m.,
I. a Roman surname, Liv. 24, 40, 8.

Quick answers

What does crista mean in Latin?
crista, a noun, means “the crest, the plume; the comb or tuft on the head of animals (most frequently of a rooster or a cock); the tuft of leaves on plants”.
What is the genitive of crista?
The genitive singular is cristae. crista is feminine, first declension.
How do you pronounce crista?
In classical Latin, [ˈkrɪs.ta]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈkris.ta].