guillotine

[gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-, gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-]

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.

verb (used with object)

guillotined, guillotining 

1. to behead by the guillotine.

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

guillotine

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

verb

1. to behead (a person) by guillotine

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

guillotine

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.

Other Word Forms

• unguillotined adjective
• guillotiner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of guillotine¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of guillotine¹

C18: from French, named after Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician, who advocated its use in 1789

Example Sentences

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

Read more on BBC

He provided the testimony that led to a series of arrests—then interrogations and torture, followed in most cases by a final march to the gallows, firing squad or guillotine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“You are quite right, Cassiopeia. And, dear me, nobody is going to the guillotine! Come along, everyone. We must speak to Judge Quinzy.”

Read more on Literature

The Sept. 1 protest had “little to no energy,” according to an internal Portland police summary, before federal officers dispersed the crowd to collect a prop guillotine that had been brought.

Read more on Salon

Stripping a prince of his title has a whiff of the guillotine, a swift transforming blow.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal