Guillotine

The guillotine is an archaic execution device by which the victim is decapitated. The device is usually built from a tall wooden frame, in which a heavy angled blade is hoisted up by rope and positioned above the victim's neck. The blade is then released, decapitating the unfortunate person. The guillotine was the method of execution namely in France during the Revolution. It was the most popular method of capital punishment in France up until 1981 when capital punishment was overturned.