guillotines
French execution devices
Guillotines is the plural of guillotine, a device for beheading by dropping a heavy blade between two posts.
Named for the French physician who advocated it as a humane execution method during the Revolution.
The word extends to any device with a similar dropping-blade mechanism: a paper guillotine cuts stacks of sheets.
As a verb, to guillotine is to execute by this method, or in British parliamentary procedure, to impose a time limit that cuts off debate: The government guillotined the bill through committee.
Removal of head
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
- executionerOne who kills condemned
- decapitationSevering head from body
Reign of Terror · French Revolution · Robespierre · Marie Antoinette · Louis XVI · condemned · public execution · severed
Flat cutting edge
- lunetteCrescent-shaped architectural opening
- basculePivoting lever apparatus
- moutonSheepskin made to look different
- weightedMade intentionally heavier
release · lever · uprights · crossbar · angled · falling · gravity · mechanism
One who severs
- trimmerCutting or pruning device
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- stackItems piled vertically
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
ream · straight edge · industrial · binding · printing · print shop · lever · safety guard
Delaying tactic through speech
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- debateFormal argument on issues
- time limitMaximum duration permitted
procedural · closure · obstruction · voting · amendment · parliamentary · motion · limitation
beheading
Removal of head
- bladeFlat cutting edge
- scaffoldTemporary elevated work structure
- executionerOne who kills condemned
decapitation · Reign of Terror · French Revolution · Robespierre · Marie Antoinette · Louis XVI · condemned · public execution · severed · basket
blade
Flat cutting edge
- lunetteCrescent-shaped architectural opening
- basculePivoting lever apparatus
- moutonSheepskin made to look different
weighted · release · lever · uprights · crossbar · angled · falling · gravity · mechanism · efficiency
cutter
One who severs
precision · ream · straight edge · industrial · binding · printing · print shop · lever · safety guard · cutting mat
filibuster
Delaying tactic through speech
- clotureProcedure ending legislative discussion
- SenateLegislative body, often bicameral's elder
- debateFormal argument on issues
time limit · procedural · closure · obstruction · voting · amendment · parliamentary · motion · limitation · Congress
guillotinesdeath by a thousand cuts
Cumulative minor injuries killing
burning at the stake · crucifixion · drawing and quartering · the rack · torture devices
guillotinestorture devices
Tools for causing pain
slow death · death by a thousand cuts · starvation · exposure · crucifixion
guillotineslife support
Systems maintaining vital functions
defibrillators · incubators · resuscitators · ventilators · surgical instruments
- guillotine chokeSubmission hold targeting throat