different between decapitation vs headsman

English

Etymology

From French décapitation.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?kæp??te???n/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

decapitation (countable and uncountable, plural decapitations)

1. Beheading; the act of beheading or decapitating.

   If the headsman's axe was sharp and his aim was true, decapitation was a quick and relatively painless form of death

2. The ousting or destruction of the ruling body of a government or other organization.

   A decapitation strike carried out by drone killed many of the country's senior generals.

3. (politics) The unseating of a senior politician.

   The decapitation of the Foreign Secretary was a significant publicity coup for the opposition.

Synonyms

• beheading

Derived terms

• decapitation strike

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English heddysman, equivalent to head +? -s- +? -man. Cognate with Scots hedisman, heidisman (“head man; chief; commander”). Compare also Danish høvedsmand (“captain”), Swedish hövitsman (“captain”), Icelandic höfuðsmaður (“captain”).

Noun

headsman (plural headsmen)

1. (obsolete or Scotland) A chief person; a head man
2. An executioner whose method of dispatching the condemned is decapitation.
   • 1885, Gilbert & Sullivan, The Mikado

     And made him Headsman, for we said, / "Who's next to be decapited / Cannot cut off another's head / Until he's cut his own off […]"

3. (mining, historical) A labourer in a colliery who transports the coal from the workings to the horseway, and who is oftentimes assisted by a younger worker called a foal.
4. (nautical) One in command of a whaling vessel.

Synonyms

• (one who executes via decapitation): beheader

Translations