guillotine
nounfeminine/ɡiʎuˈtinɐ/medium
gui·lho·ti·na
Definitions
1A machine with a heavy blade used for beheading people, notably during the French Revolution.
The guillotine became a symbol of the Reign of Terror.
Execution by guillotine was considered a more humane method.
Common collocations
death by guillotineguillotine bladesentenced to the guillotine
2A device or machine with a blade for cutting paper, metal, etc.
The printer used a guillotine to trim the pages.
A hydraulic guillotine is used to cut metal sheets.
Common collocations
paper guillotinehydraulic guillotinecutting guillotine
Etymology
Do francês 'guillotine', do nome do médico Joseph-Ignace Guillotin.