guillotines Definition

guillotine
noun guillotines

1. An instrument for beheading, consisting of a large heavy blade that slides rapidly down between two upright posts.
2. A device with a large blade moved by a lever, for cutting paper or metal.
3. surgery.
An instrument for excising the tonsils.
4. politics.
A time limit set to speed up discussion of, and voting on, a parliamentary bill.

verb

guillotined, guillotining
1. To use a guillotine in any of the senses above, eg to behead someone, to cut or cut out something, or to speed up the progress of something.

Etymology: 18c: named after French physician Joseph Guillotin (1738‐1814), who proposed beheading by guillotine in the French Revolution.