guillotine

[ˈɡiː.ə.tiːn]

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A guillotine is a machine used for beheading people.

You might think of the word "guillotine" as something only associated with history and execution. But surprisingly, it's also used in everyday language to describe a device that can chop things, not just heads. If you're in a workshop or garage, you might see a guillotine press, which is a machine used to cut through thick metal or wood with great force. It's often designed to be precise and accurate, so it's also used in industries like fashion, where it helps to cut long pieces of fabric into usable lengths.

How common is "guillotine"?

Word guillotine is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.

Definitions

noun

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.
A device used for cutting stacks of paper to straight edges, usually by means of a hinged blade attached to a flat platform.
A cloture; a motion that debate be ended and a vote taken.
A surgical instrument for cutting the tonsils.

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verb

To execute, cut or cut short (a person, a stack of paper or a debate) by use of a guillotine.
To end discussion on a parliamentary bill by invoking cloture.

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Real examples of "guillotine" in context

Do Steel Toe Boots Really Protect Your Toes? | MythBusters

Entertainment

To deliver the knockout blow, it's back to the guillotine.

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