A heraldic term meaning 'growing' or 'increasing,' used to describe a crescent moon in its waxing phase.
From French 'croissant' (growing, increasing), the present participle of 'croître' (to grow), ultimately from Latin 'crescere' (to grow).
The croissant pastry is named after the same 'croissant' (crescent) root—the crescent shape made pastry bakers think of the waxing moon, so they gave pastries a name that literally means 'growing' because a waxing moon is growing.
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