hokku

[ haw-koo, hok-oo ]

/ ˈhɔ ku, ˈhɒk u /

the opening verse of a linked verse series.

haiku.

Origin of hokku

1895–1900; < Japanese, equivalent to hok opening, first + ku stanza; earlier fot-ku < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese fá depart + jù phrase

hokey-pokey, hoki, hokiang, hokinson, hokkaido, hokku, hokonui, hokum, hokusai, hol hamoed, hol-

The most attenuated form of all is the hokku (or haikai) which consists of only three lines, namely, 17 syllables.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 2 |Various
The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer's mind, but never uttered.

Japanese Prints |John Gould Fletcher
He reformed the hokku, by introducing into everything he wrote a deep spiritual significance underlying the words.

Japanese Prints |John Gould Fletcher
It must always be understood that there is an implied continuation to every Japanese hokku.

Japanese Prints |John Gould Fletcher

That is not to say, that, by taking the letter for the spirit, we should in any way strive to imitate the hokku form.

Japanese Prints |John Gould Fletcher

hokku

/ (ˈhɒkuː) /

prosody another word for haiku

from Japanese, from hok beginning + ku hemistich