/ 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.