a capital punishment, wherein the head is severed from the body by the stroke of an axe, sword, or other cutting instrument.

Beheading was a military punishment among the Romans, known by the name of decollatio. Among them the head was laid on a cippus or block, placed in a pit dug for the purpose; in the army, without the vallum; in the city, without the walls, at a place near the porta decumana. Preparatory to the stroke, the criminal was tied to a stake, and whipped with cords. In the early ages the blow was given with an axe; but in after-times with a sword, which was thought the more reputable manner of dying. The execution was but clumsily performed in the first times; but afterwards they grew more expert, and took the head off clean, with one circular stroke.

In England, beheading is the punishment of nobles, as it was formerly in France; being reputed not to derogate from nobility, as hanging does.

In Scotland they do not behead with an axe, as in England; nor with a sword, as in Holland; but with an edged instrument called the MAIDEN. With an instrument similar to this, were the bloody executions perpetrated in France during the late revolution. It was called guillotine, from the name of the supposed inventor, who was a physician.