World Languages Lexicon
10 Language-to-English DictionariesGuillotine
/ˈɡɪl.ə.tiːn/Comprehensive Definitions & Senses
2 senses- 1
A machine with a heavy blade sliding vertically in grooves, used for executing people by decapitation.
"During the French Revolution, the guillotine became the primary instrument of capital punishment."
- 1
To execute someone using a guillotine, or figuratively, to abruptly end or curtail a parliamentary debate.
"The government decided to guillotine the debate to ensure the bill was passed before the recess."
Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum
Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology
Derived from the French surname of Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, a French physician who proposed the adoption of a machine for executions in 1789. The term entered English in the late 18th century during the French Revolution, later acquiring a figurative parliamentary sense for curtailing debate.
Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Guillotine"?
10 Global Lexicons: How "Guillotine" is said worldwide
Click any language below to open its dedicated Language to English dictionary page with native script & transliteration
guillotine
Transliteration: gee-yoh-teen
"La guillotine a été abolie en France en 1981."
Guillotine
Transliteration: ギロチン
"Die Guillotine ist ein historisches Hinrichtungsgerät."
ghigliottina
Transliteration: ɡiʎʎotˈtiːna
"La ghigliottina fu ampiamente usata durante la rivoluzione francese."
guillotina
Transliteration: ɡiʝoˈtina
"La guillotina es un símbolo infame de la Revolución Francesa."
guilhotina
Transliteration: ɡiʎoˈtʃinɐ
"A guilhotina foi o método padrão de execução na França revolucionária."
गिलोटीन
Transliteration: giloteen
"फ्रांसीसी क्रांति के दौरान गिलोटीन का बड़े पैमाने पर उपयोग किया गया था।"
断头台
Transliteration: duàn tóu tái
"断头台是法国大革命时期的标志性刑具。"
단두대
Transliteration: dandudae
"프랑스 혁명 시기에 단두대가 널리 사용되었습니다."
ギロチン
Transliteration: girocin
"ギロチンはフランス革命の象徴的な処刑道具です。"
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