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guillotine

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guillotine

Main Entry:: guil·lo·tine
Pronunciation:: \ˈgi-lə-ˌtēn; ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈ, ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌ\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: French, from Joseph Guillotin died 1814 French physician
Date:: 1793

1: a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides down in vertical guides2: a shearing machine or instrument (as a paper cutter) that in action resembles a guillotine3chiefly British : closure by the imposition of a predetermined time limit on the consideration of specific sections of a bill or portions of other legislative business

— guillotine transitive verb

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