Hara-kiri Definition
härəkirē, harəkirē; popularly, herēkerē
hara-kiri
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.
Webster's New World
Ceremonial suicide by disembowelment, as by slicing open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practised in Japan by the Samurai when disgraced or sentenced to death.
Wiktionary
Suicide or any suicidal action.
Wiktionary
(by extension, figuratively) An act against one's own interests.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- seppuku
- harikari
- harakiri
Origin of Hara-kiri
-
From Japanese 腹切り (はらきり (harakiri)). From 腹 (“belly”) (はら (hara)) + 切る (“cut”) (きる (kiru)).
From Wiktionary
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