Variant: also hari-kari
Pronunciation: ˌ ha-ri- ' kir- ē , - ' kra- ē
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