guill

n. [ F. ] (Zool.) One of several northern sea birds, allied to the auks. They have short legs, placed far back, and are expert divers and swimmers. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common guillemots, or murres, belong to the genus Uria (as U. troile); the black or foolish guillemot (Cepphus grylle, formerly Uria grylle), is called also sea pigeon and eligny. See Murre. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. guilloire (fr. guiller to work, ferment) + E. vat. ] A vat for fermenting liquors. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. guillochis; -- said to be fr. Guillot, the inventor of a machine for carving it. ] (Arch.) 1. An ornament in the form of two or more bands or strings twisted over each other in a continued series, leaving circular openings which are filled with round ornaments. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In ornamental art, any pattern made by interlacing curved lines. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Waved or engine-turned. Mollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F., from Guillotin, a French physician, who proposed, in the Constituent Assembly of 1789, to abolish decapitation with the ax or sword. The instrument was invented by Dr. Antoine Louis, and was called at first Louison or Louisette. Similar machines, however, were known earlier. ] 1. A machine for beheading a person by one stroke of a heavy ax or blade, which slides in vertical guides, is raised by a cord, and let fall upon the neck of the victim. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Any machine or instrument for cutting or shearing, resembling in its action a guillotine. [ 1913 Webster ]