Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Ceremonial suicide by disembowelment, as by slicing open the abdomen with a dagger or knife: formerly practised in Japan by the Samurai when disgraced or sentenced to death.
  • noun Suicide or any suicidal action.
  • noun by extension, figuratively An act against one's own interests.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Japanese harakiri : hara, abdomen, bowels + kiri, to cut.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Japanese 腹切り (はらきり (harakiri)). From  ("belly") (はら (hara)) + 切る ("cut") (きる (kiru)).

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