Webster's English Dictionary

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guillotine

guil.lo.tine \'gil-*-.te-n, .gil-*-', .ge--(y)*-', 'ge--(y)*-.\ n [F, fr. 
   Joseph Guillotin -1814 F physician] 1: a machine for beheading by means of 
   a heavy blade that slides down in ve rtical guides 2: an instrument that 
   resembles a guillotine  3: closure by the imposition of a predetermined 
   time limit on the considera tion of specific sections of a bill or portions 
   of other legislative business - guillotine vb