Behead (verb)

1. To cut off the head of a person or animal.
2. To remove the head of a statue or other object.

Origin:

From middle english beheiden, from old english behēafdian, from be- + hēafod ("hea.d")

Examples:

1. During the French Revolution, thousands of people were beheaded as punishment for their alleged crimes.
2. In the medieval times, beheading was considered a relatively humane form of execution.
3. The king ordered the traitor to be beheaded in front of the entire court.
4. The guillotine was the most commonly used method of beheading during the French Revolution.
5. The statue of the former dictator was beheaded by angry protestors.