Behead
/bɪˈhɛd/noun
To cut off someone's head, typically as a form of execution.
Did you know?The act of beheading was often seen as a way to release the soul from the body, linking it to ancient beliefs about life and death.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kaput
“head or chief part of something.”
Old English
Old English
beheafdian
“to cut off the head, literally meaning to 'cause to head off.'”
Middle English
Middle English
beheden
“to remove the head, often associated with punishment.”
14th Century
English
beheaden
“to execute by removing the head, often in a public spectacle.”
Modern English
English
behead
“to kill by severing the head, commonly linked to executions.”