also: はとう
wave crest; whitecaps
Refers to the top of a wave, often with white foam; used in both literal and figurative contexts.
The strong wind is making the wave crests break white.
We could see many whitecaps far out at sea.
Standard kanji form; the reading なみがしら is the most common.
Alternate reading はとう, less common and somewhat literary.
Compound of 波 (nami, 'wave') + 頭 (kashira, 'head'), literally 'wave head'. The reading はとう is the on'yomi version, used in more formal or literary contexts.