guillotine

noun

guil·​lo·​tine ˈgi-lə-ˌtēn  ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn  ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌtēn 

1

: a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides down in vertical guides

2

: a shearing machine or instrument (such as a paper cutter) that in action resembles a guillotine

The paper was trimmed on a guillotine.

3

chiefly British : closure by the imposition of a predetermined time limit on the consideration of specific sections of a bill or portions of other legislative business

guillotine transitive verb

Examples of guillotine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the year that followed Louis’ execution, roughly 40,000 people would be killed, many of them at the guillotine. —Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Aug. 2024

Conditions for the women's heats weren't as lucky, leaving competitors to create opportunities from power surfing — carving long lines, hitting the top and creating a shower of spray, and floating down with Teahupo'o's guillotine of a lip. —Dennis Romero, NBC News, 6 Aug. 2024

The Luxor Obelisk, on the spot where the guillotine once stood during the Reign of Terror in France’s revolutionary period, was mere tens of feet away from the court. —Kyle Feldscher, CNN, 5 Aug. 2024

That would be Marie Antoinette, former Queen of France, who was intimately introduced to the guillotine by French people fed up with her and her fellow ruling elites. —Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 31 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Joseph Guillotin †1814 French physician

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

guillotine

noun

guil·​lo·​tine ˈgil-ə-ˌtēn  ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn 

ˈgē-(y)əˌ-tēn

: a machine for cutting off a person's head by means of a heavy blade sliding in two upright grooved posts

guillotine verb

Etymology

named for Joseph Guillotin 1738–1814 French doctor and public official

Medical Definition

guillotine

noun

guil·​lo·​tine ˈgil-ə-ˌtēn  ˈgē-ə-ˌtēn 

: a surgical instrument that consists of a ring and handle with a knife blade which slides down the handle and across the ring and that is used for cutting out a protruding structure (as a tonsil) capable of being placed in the ring