koans

Variant of koan

koan definition

koan (kō′än′)

noun pl. koans ko′ans′, koan ko′an′

in Zen Buddhism, a verbal puzzle put to a student as a means to enlightenment

Etymology: Jpn < kō, public + an, (a matter for) investigation, consideration

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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