Beheading
Beheading
Beheading (pronunciation: /bɪˈhɛdɪŋ/) is a method of capital punishment where the person is killed by severing the head from the body. The act is often carried out by an executioner using a sword or axe.
Etymology
The term "beheading" comes from the Old English words be (off) and heafod (head), literally meaning "off-head".
History
Beheading has been used as a form of execution for centuries across many cultures. It was often used for high-ranking individuals, such as nobility, as it was considered a more honorable and less painful method of execution than others. In some cultures, the heads of enemies were collected as trophies.
Methods
There are two main methods of beheading: manual decapitation with a sword or axe, and mechanical decapitation using a device such as the guillotine.
Manual Decapitation
Manual decapitation is the older of the two methods and requires a strong, skilled executioner. The person to be executed is usually restrained and made to kneel, with their neck exposed. The executioner then swings the sword or axe, severing the head from the body.
Mechanical Decapitation
Mechanical decapitation, such as with the guillotine, was developed to make the process quicker and less reliant on the skill of the executioner. The person to be executed is restrained in a device that exposes their neck, and a weighted blade is dropped from a height to sever the head.
Related Terms
- Decapitation: The act of cutting off the head of a living organism.
- Executioner: A person who carries out a death sentence ordered by the state or other legal authority.
- Capital punishment: The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Beheading
- Wikipedia's article - Beheading
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