guillotine

Meaning

Noun

1. (also, figuratively, historical) A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of the person to be executed; also, execution using this machine.
2. (broadly) A device or machine with a cutting blade.
3. (broadly) A device or machine with a cutting blade.
4. (British, broadly, informal) A parliamentary procedure for fixing the dates when various stages of discussion of a bill must end, to ensure that the enactment of the bill proceeds expeditiously.
5. (US, broadly, informal) A legislative motion that debate be ended and a vote taken; a cloture.

Verb

1. (also, figuratively, transitive) To use a guillotine (on someone or something).
2. (transitive) To use a guillotine (on someone or something).
3. (British, informal, transitive) To end discussion (about a parliamentary bill or part of one) by invoking a guillotine procedure.
4. (US, informal, transitive) To end (a legislative debate) by invoking cloture.

Synonyms

behead

decapitate

cutting machine

execute

death penalty

closure by compartment

cut

cutter

capital punishment

shearing machine

trimming machine

breaking knife

cut-off device

bench trimmer

blade

clipper

corporal punishment

decollate

microtome

mow

cut the head off

paper cutter

Translations

guillotine

guilhotina

ghigliottina

guillotina

Guillotine

guillotina

Fallbeil

massicot

guillotine

γκιλοτίνα

ghigliottinare

مقصلة

guillotiner

guillotinieren

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡɪlətiːn/

Etymology

Borrowed from French guillotine, named after the French physician Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), who proposed its use for capital punishment.