caustic words; defiant words
Almost always used in the set phrase 啖呵を切る (たんかをきる), meaning 'to speak sharply or defiantly'. The noun alone is rarely used independently.
See also: 啖呵を切る
彼は上司に啖呵を切って辞表を出した。
He spoke defiantly to his boss and handed in his resignation.
あの政治家は記者会見で啖呵を切ることで有名だ。
That politician is famous for speaking sharply at press conferences.
Ateji spelling; the kanji are used phonetically. This is the standard written form for the word.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the ateji kanji are not needed.
The kanji 啖呵 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and do not contribute meaning. The word likely derives from a mimetic or sound-symbolic origin, but the exact derivation is uncertain.