Guillotiner

/ˈɡɪləˌtinər/ noun

Definition

A person who operates the guillotine; an executioner using the guillotine device.

Etymology

From guillotine (execution device) + -er agent suffix. This term emerged during the French Revolution to describe the new profession of guillotine operators who carried out mass executions.

Kelly Says

During the Terror, guillotiner became a recognized profession, and historical records show some operators became oddly famous—one Paris guillotiner named Sanson kept meticulous records and became a kind of historical documentarian despite the grim nature of his work.

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