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kamikaze

kamikaze

noun kah-mee-KAH-dzeh Rare

Origin: From Japanese kamikaze ('divine wind'), the name of typhoons that destroyed Mongol fleets in 1274 and 1281.

Also means

suicide attacker

Usage Note

Kamikaze is invariable in Italian: un kamikaze, i kamikaze (no plural inflection). Originally referring to Japanese WWII pilots who flew suicidal missions, in Italian it is commonly used both for suicide bombers and figuratively for reckless behaviour: guida da kamikaze ('drives like a lunatic'). The word entered Italian via English.

Examples

"L'attacco è stato compiuto da un kamikaze."

Natural Translation

The attack was carried out by a kamikaze.

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