hokku

[ haw-koo, hok-oo ]

noun

, Prosody.

, plural hok·ku.

1. the opening verse of a linked verse series.
2. haiku.

hokku

/ ˈhɒkuː /

noun

1. prosody another word for haiku

Word History and Origins

Origin of hokku¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of hokku¹

from Japanese, from hok beginning + ku hemistich

Example Sentences

The most attenuated form of all is the hokku (or haikai) which consists of only three lines, namely, 17 syllables.

From Project Gutenberg

He reformed the hokku, by introducing into everything he wrote a deep spiritual significance underlying the words.

From Project Gutenberg

The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer's mind, but never uttered.

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg