English Explanatory Dictionary

seppuku

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A form of ritual suicide by disembowelment using a blade, practiced by Japanese samurai, especially to rid oneself of shame, as a means of protest, or, formerly, as a method of capital punishment.

Pronunciation

/sɛˈpuː.kuː/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-seppuku.wav sĕpʹo͞o-ko͞o sĕpʹə- sĕ-po͞oʹ- sə-po͞oʹ- /ˈsɛ.pu(ˌ)ku/ /ˈsɛ.pə-/ /sɛˈpu-/ /səˈpu-/

Word forms

seppuku seppukus

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 切腹 (seppuku), from Middle Chinese 切 (t͡set, “to cut”) + 腹 (pjuwk, “belly”). Compare Cantonese 切腹 (cit³ fuk¹) and Mandarin 切腹 (qiēfù).

Synonyms

hara-kiri

Related words

bushido hara-kiri kamikaze suicide
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