Hara-kiri \Ha"ra-ki`ri\, n. [Jap., stomach cutting.]
Suicide, by slashing the abdomen, formerly practiced in
Japan, and commanded by the government in the cases of
disgraced officials; disembowelment; -- also written, but
incorrectly, {hari-kari}. --W. E. Griffis.
hara-kiri
n : ritual suicide by self-disembowelment on a sword; practiced
by warriors in the traditional Japanese society [syn: {harakiri},
{harikari}]