helmet with white hair on top, making the wearer look old
Historical term for a type of helmet used in traditional performances or ceremonies, where white hair protrudes from the top to give an aged appearance.
The mask called 老頭 used in Noh theater is characterized by its white hair.
kanji radical 'old' at the top
Refers to the kanji component 老 when it appears at the top of a character, such as in 考 or 者. Also known as 老冠 (おいかんむり).
See also: 老冠
The top part of characters like 考 and 者 is the radical called 老頭.