Main Entry:

hara–kiri

Variant(s):

also hari–kari \ˌha-ri-ˈkir-ē, -ˈka-rē\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Japanese harakiri, from hara belly + kiri cutting

Date:

1840

1 : ritual suicide by disembowelment practiced by the Japanese samurai or formerly decreed by a court in lieu of the death penalty 2 : suicide 1b