guillotine

A device or machine with a cutting blade.

A device used for cutting the pages of books, stacks of paper, etc., to straight edges, usually by means of a hinged or sliding blade attached to a flat platform.

An instrument with a sliding blade for cutting the tonsils, uvula, or other body parts.

(historical) A machine used for the application of capital punishment by decapitation, consisting of a tall upright frame from which is suspended a heavy diagonal-edged blade which is dropped onto the neck of the person to be executed; also, execution using this machine.

(UK, informal) A parliamentary procedure for fixing the dates when various stages of discussion of a bill must end, to ensure that the enactment of the bill proceeds expeditiously.

(US, informal) A legislative motion that debate be ended and a vote taken; a cloture.

To use a guillotine (on someone or something).

To execute (someone) with a guillotine.

To cut or trim (a body part, a stack of paper, etc.) with a guillotine.

(UK, informal) To end discussion (about a parliamentary bill or part of one) by invoking a guillotine procedure.

(US, informal) To end (a legislative debate) by invoking cloture.

(figurative) To end anything abruptly.