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hara-kiri

Syllabification: (ha·ra-ki·ri)
Pronunciation: /ˌhärə ˈki(ə)rē, ˌharə-, ˌharē ˈkarē/

Definition of hara-kiri

noun

  • ritual suicide by disembowelment with a sword, formerly practiced in Japan by samurai as an honorable alternative to disgrace or execution.

Origin:

mid 19th century: colloquial Japanese, from hara 'belly' + kiri 'cutting'

hara-kiri in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hara-kiri in the British & World English dictionary

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