guillotine
Plural
guillotines
1
a device for beheading, featuring a tall frame with a suspended blade released to swiftly sever the condemned person's head
- During the French Revolution, the guillotine became a symbol of radical political change as it was employed for public executions.
- The condemned criminal faced the guillotine, a device known for its efficiency in carrying out swift and lethal beheadings.
- In the 18th century, the guillotine replaced other execution methods in some European countries due to its perceived humanity.
- The crowd gathered in the town square to witness the grim spectacle of a public execution by guillotine.
- The guillotine was dismantled and abolished in many countries as a more humane approach to capital punishment was adopted.
2
a procedural measure that imposes a strict time limit on the debate of specific sections of a bill
- Parliament applied the guillotine to ensure the bill passed on schedule.
- The committee used a guillotine to limit discussion on contentious clauses.
- Critics argued that the guillotine stifled thorough debate.
- A guillotine was imposed to prevent filibustering during the legislative session.
- The debate on the budget was ended prematurely by a guillotine.
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