La guillotine (French term)

La guillotine is a device historically used for executions by beheading, particularly during the French Revolution. Invented in the late 18th century, it was designed to minimize suffering and ensure a swift death. The machine features a heavy blade that is dropped from a height onto the victim's neck. It became a symbol of the Revolution, representing the state's power and the movement towards equality in justice. While it was intended to be a humane method, the guillotine remains associated with the violence and turmoil of that era in French history.