Crescent

[kres-uh nt] /ˈkrɛs ənt/

noun
1.
a shape resembling a segment of a ring tapering to points at the ends.
2.
something, as a roll or cookie, having this shape.
3.
Astronomy.

4.
the emblem of Turkey or of Islam.
5.
the power, religion, or civilization of Turkey or of Islam.
6.
Also called Chinese crescent, Chinese pavilion, jingling Johnny, pavillon Chinois, Turkish crescent. a musical percussion instrument of Turkish origin, consisting of a pole bearing a crescent-shaped metal plate, topped with a pavillon, and hung with small bells.
7.
Chiefly British.

8.
Heraldry. a representation of a crescent moon, horns upward unless otherwise specified, used as the cadency mark of a second son.
adjective
9.
shaped like a crescent.
10.
increasing; growing.
/ˈkrɛsənt; -zənt/
noun
1.
the biconcave shape of the moon in its first or last quarters
2.
any shape or object resembling this
3.
(mainly Brit)

4.
(heraldry) a crescent moon, used as the cadency mark of a second son
5.
(often capital) the crescent

adjective
6.
(archaic or poetic) increasing or growing
n.

late 14c., “crescent-shaped ornament,” from Anglo-French cressaunt, from Old French creissant “crescent of the moon” (12c., Modern French croissant), from Latin crescentum (nominative crescens), present participle of crescere “come forth, spring up, grow, thrive, swell, increase in numbers or strength,” from PIE root *ker- “to grow” (cf. Latin Ceres, goddess of agriculture, creare “to bring forth, create, produce;” Greek kouros “boy,” kore “girl;” Armenian serem “bring forth,” serim “be born”).

Applied in Latin to the waxing moon, luna crescens, but subsequently in Latin mistaken to refer to the shape, not the stage. The original Latin sense is preserved in crescendo. A badge or emblem of the Turkish sultans (probably chosen for its suggestion of “increase”); figurative sense of “Muslim political power” is from 1580s, but modern writers often falsely associate it with the Saracens of the Crusades or the Moors of Spain. Horns of the waxing moon are on the viewer’s left side; those of the waning moon are on his right.

crescent cres·cent (krěs’ənt)
n.
Something having concave and convex edges terminating in points. adj.
Crescent-shaped.
cres·cen’tic (krə-sěn’tĭk) adj.
crescent
(krěs’ənt)
Partly but less than half illuminated. Used to describe the Moon or a planet. Compare gibbous.