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hokku

American  
[haw-koo, hok-oo] / ˈhɔ ku, ˈhɒk u /

noun

Prosody.

plural

hokku
  1. the opening verse of a linked verse series.

  2. haiku.


hokku British  
/ ˈhɒkuː /

noun

  1. prosody another word for haiku

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of hokku

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Japanese, from hok “departure, start” (akin to Cantonese faat, Korean bal, Mandarin ) + ku “phrase, stanza” (akin to Cantonese geoi, Korean gu, Mandarin )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It must always be understood that there is an implied continuation to every Japanese hokku.

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

Composing hokku might, however, have remained a mere game of elaborate literary conceits and double meanings, but for the genius of one man.

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

That is not to say, that, by taking the letter for the spirit, we should in any way strive to imitate the hokku form.

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

The reader can now see for himself what the main object of the hokku poetry is, and what it achieved.

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

The most famous hokku that Bashō wrote, might be literally translated thus: "An old pond And the sound of a frog leaping Into the water."

From Japanese Prints by Lathrop, Dorothy Pulis

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