behead
v. C1 Advanced US //biˈhɛd// UK //bɪhˈɛd// be·head
v. to cut off someone's head, usually as a punishment or in a fight. It is a very serious and violent word.
v. to decapitate a person or animal, typically as a form of capital punishment or in the context of combat. Transitive — requires a direct object.
The soldiers were ordered to behead the prisoners.
The executioner's blade was designed to behead the condemned with a single, swift stroke, minimizing the duration of the death penalty.
From Middle English beheden, bihefden, biheveden, from Old English behēafdian (“to behead”), equivalent to be- (“off, away”) + head.