Definitions for guillotine
ˈgɪl əˌtin, ˈgi ə-; esp. for v. ˌgɪl əˈtin, ˌgi ə-guil·lo·tine

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. closure by compartment, guillotinenoun

   closure imposed on the debate of specific sections of a bill

2. guillotineverb

   instrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading people

3. guillotineverb

   kill by cutting the head off with a guillotine

   "The French guillotined many Vietnamese while they occupied the country"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. guillotinenoun

   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.

2. guillotinenoun

   A device used for cutting stacks of paper to straight edges, usually by means of a hinged blade attached to a flat platform.

3. guillotinenoun

   A cloture; a motion that debate be ended and a vote taken.

4. guillotineverb

   To execute, cut or cut short (a person, a stack of paper or a debate) by use of a guillotine.

5. Etymology: From guillotine, after Dr Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed its use for capital punishment.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Guillotine

   A guillotine is an apparatus designed for efficiently carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with a pillory at the bottom of the frame, holding the position of the neck directly below the blade. The blade is then released, swiftly and forcefully decapitating the victim with a single, clean pass; the head falls into a basket or other receptacle below. The guillotine is best known for its use in France, particularly during the French Revolution, where the revolution's supporters celebrated it as the people's avenger and the revolution's opponents vilified it as the pre-eminent symbol of the violence of the Reign of Terror. While the name "guillotine" itself dates from this period, similar devices had been in use elsewhere in Europe over several centuries. Use of an oblique blade and the pillory-like restraint device set this type of guillotine apart from others. Display of severed heads had long been one of the most common ways European sovereigns exhibited their power to their subjects.The design of the guillotine was intended to make capital punishment more reliable and less painful in accordance with new Enlightenment ideas of human rights. Prior to use of the guillotine, France had inflicted manual beheading and a variety of methods of execution, many of which were more gruesome and required a high level of precision and skill to carry out successfully. After its adoption, the device remained France's standard method of judicial execution until abolition of capital punishment in 1981. The last person to be executed in France was Hamida Djandoubi, guillotined on 10 September 1977.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. guillotine

   A guillotine is a device that was used primarily during the French Revolution for carrying out executions by beheading. It consists of a tall upright frame from which a large blade is suspended, rapidly and forcefully dropped to decapitate the individual below. The term can also refer to a similar instrument used for cutting or trimming paper or other thin material.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Guillotinenoun

   a machine for beheading a person by one stroke of a heavy ax or blade, which slides in vertical guides, is raised by a cord, and let fall upon the neck of the victim

2. Guillotinenoun

   any machine or instrument for cutting or shearing, resembling in its action a guillotine

3. Guillotineverb

   to behead with the guillotine

4. Etymology: [F., from Guillotin, a French physician, who proposed, in the Constituent Assembly of 1789, to abolish decapitation with the ax or sword. The instrument was invented by Dr. Antoine Louis, and was called at first Louison or Louisette. Similar machines, however, were known earlier.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Guillotine

   The guillotine is a device designed for carrying out executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame in which a weighted and angled blade is raised to the top and suspended. The condemned person is secured at the bottom of the frame, with his or her neck held directly below the blade. The blade is then released, to fall swiftly and sever the head from the body. The device is best known for its use in France, in particular during the French Revolution, when it "became a part of popular culture, celebrated as the people's avenger by supporters of the Revolution and vilified as the pre-eminent symbol of the Reign of Terror by opponents." However, it continued to be used long after the Revolution and remained France's standard method of judicial execution until the abolition of capital punishment with the backing of President François Mitterrand in 1981. The last person guillotined in France was Hamida Djandoubi, on 10 September 1977. The guillotine has also been employed in other countries. In Germany, it saw rapid and prolific use during the Third Reich and was used once by West Germany in 1949 and by the German Democratic Republic as late as 1966.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Guillotine

   gil′ō-tēn, n. an instrument for beheading—consisting of an upright frame down which a sharp heavy axe descends on the neck of the victim—adopted during the French Revolution, and named after Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738-1814), a physician, who first proposed its adoption: a machine for cutting paper, straw, &c.: a surgical instrument for cutting the tonsils.—v.t. to behead with the guillotine.—n. Guill′otinement, death by the guillotine.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Guillotine

   a beheading-machine invented by a Dr. Guillotin, and recommended by him to the National Convention, which adopted it; "with my machine, Messieurs, I whisk off your head in a twinkling, and you have no pain;" it was anticipated by the Maiden in Scotland.

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. guillotine

   The instrument of decapitation introduced during the French revolution by the Convention, and named after its supposed inventor, J. I. Guillotin. It is composed of two upright posts, grooved on the inside, and connected on the top by a cross-beam. In these grooves a sharp iron blade, placed obliquely, descends by its own weight on the neck of the victim, who is bound to a board laid below. The invention of machines of this kind is ascribed to the Persians. In Italy, from the 13th century, it was the privilege of the nobles to be put to death by a machine of this kind, which was called mannaia. Machines of similar kind were used in Scotland and Holland for the purpose of decapitation.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. guillotine

   Song lyrics by guillotine -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by guillotine on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Closure
   • Decapitate

How to pronounce guillotine?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say guillotine in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of guillotine in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of guillotine in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of guillotine in a Sentence

1. Bruno Margolle:

   It’s a relief. I’m not going to say otherwise, we were strung up on the guillotine, waiting.

2. The Republican governor:

   What I think we ought to do is bring the guillotine back, we could have public executions and have, you know, we could even have (guessing) which hole it falls in.

3. Charles de LEUSSE:

   Praying mantis cuts off the male's head. Guillotine: the erection of crowds. (Mante religieuse coupe la tête du mâle. Guillotine: l'érection des foules)

4. A.E. Samaan:

   Madame la Guillotine is the younger sister, the ideological sibling of the 2nd Amendment; both were conceived of a need to purge overbearing governments.

5. Clare Boothe Luce:

   Communism is the opiate of the intellectuals -- With no cure except as a guillotine might be called a cure for dandruff.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=guillotine
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Guillotine
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillotine
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guillotine
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=guillotine
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=guillotine
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Guillotine
9. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html