n. & v.
n. 1 a machine with a heavy knife-blade sliding vertically in grooves, used for beheading. 2 a device for cutting paper, metal, etc. 3 a surgical instrument for excising the uvula etc. 4 Parl. a method of preventing delay in the discussion of a legislative bill by fixing times at which various parts of it must be voted on.
v.tr. 1 use a guillotine on. 2 Parl. end discussion of (a bill) by applying a guillotine. guillotiner n.
[ F f. J.-I. Guillotin, Fr. physician d. 1814, who recommended its use for executions in 1789 ]