Where did the word guillotine come from?

The word "guillotine" comes from the name of the French physician Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, who proposed its use as a more humane method of execution than the traditional methods of the time, such as hanging or beheading with a sword.

While Guillotin himself didn't invent the device, his name became associated with it due to his advocacy for its use. He believed that the guillotine would provide a swift and painless death, regardless of the person's social standing.

It is important to note that the guillotine was not actually designed by Guillotin, but by Dr. Antoine Louis, a surgeon who was a member of a committee tasked with finding a more humane method of execution.

Despite Guillotin's intentions, the guillotine became a symbol of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, where it was used extensively to execute political enemies. The word "guillotine" itself became synonymous with the instrument of death and the brutal regime that employed it.