seppuku

Etymology

From Japanese 切腹, せっぷく (seppuku), from Middle Chinese 切 (t͡set "to cut") + 腹 (pjuwk "belly") (compare Cantonese tsit-fuk 切腹, Mandarin qiēfù 切腹).

Noun

seppuku (countable and uncountable, plural seppukus or seppuku)

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.

See also

• bushido
• hara-kiri
• kamikaze
• suicide

Anagrams

• pukes up

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 切腹.

Noun

seppuku

1. seppuku
   • 1997, Erik Østerud, Den Optiske Fordring: Pejlinger I Den Visuelle Kultur Omkring Henrik Ibsens Forfatterskab

     På grund af dette lovbrud beordrer shogunen Hangan til at begå seppuku.

     Because of this crime, the shogun commands Hangan to commit seppuku.

   • 1967, K. Holst Andersen, Mit hus i Japan

     ... det blev ham tilladt at begå seppuku, eller harakiri, selvmord ved at stikke en kniv i underlivet.

     ... he was allowed to commit seppuku, or harakiri, suicide by stabbing a knife into the part of the body consisting of the hip and the scrotum.

Romanization

seppuku

1. Rōmaji transcription of せっぷく

Etymology

From Japanese 切腹 (せっぷく (seppuku)).

Noun

seppuku n (indecl)

1. seppuku

Noun

seppuku m (plural seppukus)

1. seppuku (ritual Japanese suicide by disembowelment)