Guillotine

Apparatus designed for carrying out executions by beheading

A guillotine ( GHIL-ə-teen GHIL-ə-TEEN GHEE-yə-teen) is an apparatus designed for effectively carrying out executions by beheading. The device consists of a tall, upright frame with a weighted and angled blade suspended at the top. The condemned person is secured with a pillory at the bottom of the frame, holding the position of the neck directly below the blade.

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