écrêter

Senses

1. 1.

   to cut off the crest or top

   to remove the crest, peak, or highest point of something

2. 2.

   to limit or cap (figuratively)

   to reduce or restrict to a maximum level, especially in technical or regulatory contexts

3. 3.

   to dock (an animal's ears or tail)

   to cut or trim the ears or tail of a horse, dog, etc.

Examples

• "Il faut écrêter les vagues pour réduire l'érosion."

  We must cut off the wave crests to reduce erosion.

• "Le gouvernement a décidé d'écrêter les revenus des plus hauts salaires."

  The government decided to cap the highest salaries.

• "Les vétérinaires écrêtent parfois les oreilles des chevaux."

  Veterinarians sometimes dock horses' ears.

Usage

Technical and formal term used in engineering, economics, and animal husbandry. In modern usage, the figurative sense (to limit or cap) is increasingly common in regulatory and policy contexts. The literal sense (removing a crest) is less frequent in everyday French.