whitecap

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a wave whose crest has broken into white foam

   Strong winds covered the river with whitecaps before the storm reached shore.

2. 2
   noun

   any of several birds distinguished by a white patch or crown on the head

   A whitecap perched briefly on the low branch beside the trail.

3. 3
   noun

   US historical: a member of a self-appointed vigilante group, often one whose members wore white hoods or masks

   The newspaper condemned the whitecaps who had terrorized local families.

A compound of white + cap. The wave and bird senses refer to a white crest resembling a cap. The historical American vigilante sense refers to the white head coverings worn by some such groups.

Topics