a crown or wreath: a circlet worn on the head as a mark of royalty, celebration, or honor
This is the ordinary Hebrew word for a crown, but it covers more ground than the English word suggests. It can be the golden crown of a king, the festive wreath a bridegroom wears at his wedding, or a woven garland of honor set on someone's head. What ties these together is the picture of something encircling the head to signal rank, joy, or worth.
The word also moves easily from the literal object to a figure of speech. A capable wife, gray hair earned in a long good life, grandchildren, or hard-won riches can each be called a person's crown: the thing that visibly adorns them and shows their honor. The prophets take the image in both directions, promising that the Lord himself will be a crown of glory to his people, and mocking a proud city as a wilting crown of pride about to be trampled underfoot.
Because the crown sits on the head in full view, losing it becomes a sharp picture of disgrace: to have the crown fall from one's head is to be stripped of honor and standing.