hara-kiri
[ hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee- ]
/ ˈhɑr əˈkɪər i, ˈhær ə-, ˈhær i- /
noun
Also called seppuku.
ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death.
suicide or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri.
Also
hari-kari.
Origin of hara-kiri
1855–60; < Japanese, equivalent to
hara belly (earlier
fara <
*para) +
kiri cut
Words nearby hara-kiri
haptometer,
haptotropism,
hapu,
hapuka,
hapuu,
hara-kiri,
harada's syndrome,
harahan,
harakeke,
harald i,
harald iii
Example sentences from the Web for hara-kiri
British Dictionary definitions for hara-kiri
hara-kiri
hari-kari (ˌhærɪˈkɑːrɪ)
/ (ˌhærəˈkɪrɪ) /
noun
(formerly, in Japan) ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword when disgraced or under sentence of death
Also called: seppuku
Word Origin for hara-kiri
C19: from Japanese taboo slang, from
hara belly +
kiri cutting
Cultural definitions for hara-kiri
hara-kiri
[ (har-i-keer-ee, hahr-uh-keer-ee) ]
A ritual of suicide, associated with warriors in traditional Japanese society.