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ka·mi·ka·ze

(kä′mĭ-käzē)

1. A Japanese pilot trained in World War II to make a suicidal crash attack, especially upon a ship.

2. An airplane loaded with explosives to be piloted in a suicide attack.

3. Slang An extremely reckless person who seems to court death.

adj.

1. Of or relating to a suicidal air attack: a kamikaze mission.

2. Slang So reckless in behavior or actions as to be suicidal: kamikaze hot rodders.

[Japanese, divine wind (from the legendary name of a typhoon that in 1281 saved Japan by destroying the Mongol navy) : kami, divine + kaze, wind.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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