Part 2573

<h1>Cress</h1> <Xpage=343>

<hw>Cress</hw> <tt>(kr?s)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Cresses</plw> <tt>(kr<?/s"<?/z)</tt>.</plu> <ety>[OE. <ets>ces</ets>, <ets>cresse</ets>, <ets>kers</ets>, <ets>kerse</ets>, AS. <ets>cresse</ets>, <ets>cerse</ets>; akin to D. <ets>kers</ets>, G. <ets>kresse</ets>, Dan. <ets>karse</ets>, Sw. <ets>krasse</ets>, and possibly also to OHG. <ets>chresan</ets> to creep.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and antiscorbutic.</def>

<note>&hand; The garden cress, called also <altname>peppergrass</altname>, is the <spn>Lepidium sativum</spn>; the water cress is the <spn>Nasturtium officinale</spn>. Various other plants are sometimes called <i>cresses</i>.</note>

<blockquote>To strip the brook with mantling <b>cresses</b> spread. <i>Goldsmith.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Bitter cress</col>. <cd>See under <er>Bitter</er>.</cd> -- <mcol><col>Not worth a cress</col>, &or; <col>"<i>not worth a kers</i>."</col></mcol> <cd>a common old proverb, now turned into the meaningless "<i>not worth a curse</i>."</cd>

<i>Skeat.</i> </cs>

<h1>Cresselle</h1> <Xpage=343>

<hw>Cres*selle"</hw> <tt>(kr?s-s?l")</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>cr\'82celle</ets> rattle.]</ety> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or the last week of Lent.</def>

<h1>Cresset</h1> <Xpage=343>

<hw>Cres"set</hw> <tt>(kr?s"s?t)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>crasset</ets>, <ets>cresset</ets>, sort of lamp or torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. <ets>cruse</ets>, F. <ets>creuset</ets> crucible, E. <ets>crucible</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material, to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole in nocturnal processions.</def>

<blockquote>Starry lamps and blazing <b>cressets</b>, fed With naphtha and asphaltus. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>As a <b>cresset</b> true that darts its length Of beamy luster from a tower of strength. <i>Wordsworth.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Coopering)</fld> <def>A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible.</def>

<i>Knight.</i>

<h1>Cressy</h1> <Xpage=343>

<hw>Cress"y</hw> <tt>(kr?s"?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Abounding in cresses.</def>

<blockquote>The <b>cressy</b> islets white in flower. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Crest</h1> <Xpage=343>

<hw>Crest</hw> <tt>(kr?st)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>creste</ets>, F. <ets>cr<?/te</ets>, L. <ets>crista</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc.</def>

<i>Darwin.</i>

<blockquote>[Attack] his rising <b>crest</b>, and drive the serpent back. <i>C. Pitt.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the weare; hence, also, the helmet.</def>

<blockquote>Stooping low his lofty <b>crest</b>. <i>Sir W. Scott.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And on his head there stood upright A <b>crest</b>, in token of a knight. <i>Gower.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <fld>(Her.)</fld> <def>A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a relic of the ancient cognizance. See <er>Cognizance</er>, 4.</def>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>The upper curve of a horse's neck.</def>

<blockquote>Throwing the base thong from his bending <b>crest</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>