Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
hokku [haw-koo, hok-oo] ExamplesWord Origin noun, plural hok·ku. Prosody.
- the opening verse of a linked verse series.
- haiku.
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 Examples from the Web for hokku Historical Examples of hokku
It must always be understood that there is an implied continuation to every Japanese hokku.
John Gould Fletcher
He reformed the hokku, by introducing into everything he wrote a deep spiritual significance underlying the words.
John Gould Fletcher
The concluding hemistich, whereby the hokku becomes the tanka, is existent in the writer’s mind, but never uttered.
John Gould Fletcher
The reader can now see for himself what the main object of the hokku poetry is, and what it achieved.
John 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.
John Gould Fletcher
British Dictionary definitions for hokku hokku noun plural -ku
- prosody another word for haiku
Word Origin for hokku from Japanese, from hok beginning + ku hemistich