[hahr-uh-keer-ee, har-uh-, har-ee-] 
| 1. | Also called seppuku. ceremonial suicide by ripping open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practiced in Japan by members of the warrior class when disgraced or sentenced to death. |
| 2. | suicide or any suicidal action; a self-destructive act: political hara-kiri. |
| ha·ra-ki·ri (hār'ĭ-kîr'ē, hä'rē-) n. pl. ha·ra-ki·ris also ha·ri-ka·ris See seppuku. [Japanese harakiri : hara, abdomen, bowels + kiri, to cut.] |
| sep·pu·ku (sěp'ōō-kōō, sě-pōō'-) n. Ritual suicide by disembowelment formerly practiced by Japanese samurai. Also called hara-kiri. [Japanese : setsu, to cut (from Middle Chinese tshet) + fuku, stomach, abdomen (from Middle Chinese fuwk).] |
A ritual of suicide, associated with warriors in traditional Japanese society.
əˈkɪər