Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
guillotine
noun
/ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/
Definition
A device used for carrying out executions by decapitation, consisting of a vertical frame that holds a heavy blade which is dropped onto the person’s neck.
Examples
- The king was executed by guillotine during the revolution.
- The guillotine became a symbol of the Reign of Terror.
- Many feared the swift justice of the guillotine.
Meaning
The term refers to the method of execution historically used in France, symbolizing a methodical and often brutal means of capital punishment.
Synonyms
- beheading device
- decapitating machine
