guillotine

American  

[gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-, gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-] / ˈgɪl əˌtin, ˈgi ə-, ˌgɪl əˈtin, ˌgi ə- /

noun

1. a device for beheading a person by means of a heavy blade that is dropped between two posts serving as guides: widely used during the French Revolution.

2. an instrument for surgically removing the tonsils.

3. any of various machines in which a vertical blade between two parallel uprights descends to cut or trim metal, stacks of paper, etc.

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verb (used with object)

guillotined, guillotining

1. to behead by the guillotine.

2. to cut with or as if with a guillotine.

guillotine British  

noun

1. 1. a device for beheading persons, consisting of a weighted blade set between two upright posts

   2. execution by this instrument

2. a device for cutting or trimming sheet material, such as paper or sheet metal, consisting of a blade inclined at a small angle that descends onto the sheet

3. a surgical instrument for removing tonsils, growths in the throat, etc

4. Also called: closure by compartment.  (in Parliament, etc) a form of closure under which a bill is divided into compartments, groups of which must be completely dealt with each day

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verb

1. to behead (a person) by guillotine

2. (in Parliament, etc) to limit debate on (a bill, motion, etc) by the guillotine

guillotine Cultural  

1. A machine designed for beheading people quickly and with minimal pain. The guillotine, which used a large falling knife blade, was devised by a physician, Joseph Guillotin, during the French Revolution and was used as the official method of execution in France until the twentieth century.

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Other Word Forms

• guillotiner noun
• unguillotined adjective

Etymology

Origin of guillotine

1785–95; named after J. I. Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician who urged its use

Example Sentences

The “age of chivalry is gone,” Edmund Burke lamented after the guillotining of Marie Antoinette of France on Oct.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Consolidation now hangs over the film industry like a guillotine, with job losses likely and the future of the theatrical movie-going experience in question,” Lauzen wrote in her report.

From Los Angeles Times

Though imprisoned after the fall of Robespierre in 1794, David escaped the guillotine and soon returned to his portrait practice and lucrative teaching studio.

From The Wall Street Journal

For the seventh time in a row in tournaments where a guillotine falls, Smith had failed to survive the cut.

From BBC

"I am on a four-year walk to the guillotine," says another, anticipating defeat at the next general election.

From BBC