Definition of the word guillotine

The guillotine, a gruesome instrument of execution, remains a chilling symbol of the French Revolution. But do you know where the word "guillotine" came from? The guillotine was invented by a French physician named Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who presented a proposal to the National Assembly in 1786 to introduce a more "humane" method of execution. His idea, which involved decapitation using a falling blade, was met with opposition, but the proposed method became law in 1791. The device was named after its creator, Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, although it was originally called the "national confessional" by its supporters. They argued that it was more merciful than other methods, such as hanging, drawn and quartered, or beheading by sword, as it resulted in a quick and virtually painless death. However, the guillotine gained infamy during its most notorious use during the Reign of Terror, a bloody period in the French Revolution that lasted from 1793 to 1794. The guillotine became the preferred method of execution for many prominent figures, including King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and Maximilien Robespierre, who all lost their heads due to their perceived threats to the revolution. In conclusion, the word "guillotine" has a chilling reminder of the French Revolution and the bloody guillotine that played such a significant role in its history. Despite being described as a merciful method of execution, it remains a gruesome symbol of the brutality that characterised that period in history.