GUILLOTINE


Meaning of GUILLOTINE in English

/ ˈgɪlətiːn; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

1.

[ sing. ] a machine, originally from France, for cutting people's heads off. It has a heavy blade that slides down a wooden frame.

2.

( BrE ) ( US ˈpaper cutter ) [ C ] a device with a long blade for cutting paper

3.

[ sing. ] ( BrE , politics ) the setting of a time limit on a debate in Parliament

■ verb [ vn ]

1.

to kill sb by cutting off their head with a guillotine

2.

( BrE ) to cut paper using a guillotine

3.

( BrE , politics ) to limit the amount of time spent discussing a new law in Parliament :

to guillotine a bill

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WORD ORIGIN

late 18th cent.: from French , named after Joseph-Ignace Guillotin (1738–1814), the French physician who recommended its use for executions in 1789.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.