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.
強い風で波頭が白く砕けている。
The strong wind is making the wave crests break white.
遠くの海にいくつもの波頭が見えた。
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.