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hara-kiri Definition

hara-kiri (här′ə kir′ē, har′ə-; popularly, her′ē ker′ē)

noun

ritual suicide by cutting the abdomen: it is called seppuku by the Japanese, and was practiced by high-ranking Japanese of the military class in lieu of execution or to avoid disgrace

Etymology: Jpn < hara, belly + kiri, a cutting, cut

hara-kiri Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • knife: So it's not time for Swans fans to reach for the sleeping tablets or hara-kiri knife yet.

Browse dictionary entries near hara-kiri

  1. ‹ haptoglobin
  2. ‹ haptic
  3. ‹ hapten
  4. ‹ Hapsburg
  5. ‹ happy talk
  6. ‹ happy hour
  7. ‹ happy-go-lucky
  8. ‹ happy
  9. ‹ happiness
  10. ‹ happily
  1. Harald ›
  2. harangue ›
  3. Harare ›
  4. harass ›
  5. harassment ›
  6. Harbin ›
  7. harbinger ›
  8. harbor ›
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