hokku
[haw-koo, hok-oo]
- the opening verse of a linked verse series.
- haiku.
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Origin of hokku
1895–1900; < Japanese, equivalent to hok opening, first + ku stanza; earlier fot-ku < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese fá depart + jù phrase
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for hokku
Historical Examples
It must always be understood that there is an implied continuation to every Japanese hokku.
Japanese PrintsJohn Gould Fletcher
He reformed the hokku, by introducing into everything he wrote a deep spiritual significance underlying the words.
Japanese PrintsJohn Gould Fletcher
The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer's mind, but never uttered.
Japanese PrintsJohn Gould Fletcher
The reader can now see for himself what the main object of the hokku poetry is, and what it achieved.
Japanese PrintsJohn Gould Fletcher
That is not to say, that, by taking the letter for the spirit, we should in any way strive to imitate the hokku form.
Japanese PrintsJohn Gould Fletcher
hokku
- prosody another word for haiku
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Word Origin
from Japanese, from hok beginning + ku hemistich
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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