塩しお花ばな

noun

purifying salt

Only when written 塩花 / 鹽花

Archaic term for salt used in purification rituals, such as scattering at a shrine entrance or after a funeral.

• 昔むかしは葬そう式しきのあと、家いえの前まえに塩しお花ばなをまいて清きよめた。

  In the old days, after a funeral, people would scatter purifying salt in front of the house.

noun

pile of salt placed by a shop entrance

Only when written 塩花 / 鹽花

A small mound of salt placed at the entrance of a shop or restaurant, traditionally believed to bring good luck and ward off evil.

• 料りょう亭ていの入いり口ぐちに塩しお花ばなが盛もってあるのを見みかける。

  You can see a pile of salt placed at the entrance of a traditional Japanese restaurant.

noun

whitecap; white-crested wave

Refers to the white foam on the crest of a wave, likened to a flower of salt. The kanji 潮花 is sometimes used for this sense.

• 沖おきのほうに塩しお花ばなが立たっている。

  Whitecaps are forming out at sea.