guillotine
noun
guil·lo·tine
ˈgi-lə-ˌtēn
ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn
ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌtēn
1
: a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides down in vertical guides
2
: a shearing machine or instrument (such as a paper cutter) that in action resembles a guillotine
The paper was trimmed on a guillotine.
3
chiefly 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
Cite this Entry
“Guillotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guillotine. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.
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