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}]