guillotine
guillotine Lexical Profile
guillotine Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A machine with a heavy, angled blade that slides vertically in wooden grooves, historically used for carrying out executions by beheading.
"During the French Revolution, the guillotine became a notorious symbol of the Reign of Terror in Paris."
A device featuring a hinged or sliding blade, used in offices and industries for cleanly cutting large stacks of paper or sheet metal.
"The print shop relies on a heavy-duty hydraulic guillotine to precisely trim large stacks of cardstock."
British A legislative procedure that sets a specific time limit on debate for a bill, ensuring it is brought to a vote quickly to prevent filibustering.
"The government was forced to introduce a guillotine to prevent the opposition from indefinitely stalling the proposed budget."
• verb
To cut materials, such as paper or sheet metal, using a device with a heavy, sliding or hinged blade.
"After printing the brochures, the technician guillotined the edges to ensure a clean, professional finish."
To execute someone by decapitation using a machine with a dropping blade.
"The revolutionary tribunal ordered the deposed monarch to be guillotined in the public square."
British To cut short a debate on a legislative bill by imposing a strict time limit and forcing a vote.
"The controversial amendment was guillotined by the ruling party before the opposition could finish presenting their arguments."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 18th century: from French, named after Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), the French physician who proposed the use of a mechanical decapitation device to ensure a more humane and egalitarian method of execution.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.