Decapitation

Decapitation, or beheading, is the removal of a living being's head, inevitably resulting in death. Beheading typically refers to the act of intentional decapitation, e.g., as a means of murder or execution; it may be accomplished, for example, with an axe, sword, or knife, or by means of a guillotine. Accidental decapitation can be the result of an explosion, automobile or industrial accident or other violent injury. Suicide by decapitation is rare, but not unknown. In 2003 a British man killed himself by means of a home-made guillotine, constructed over a period of several weeks.

Other meanings of the word

• The term 'decapitation' is also used in politics, and other organisational structures as meaning to remove the leaders, i.e. the 'head', of the organisation in the hope or expectation that it would flounder without direction from the top. This is a figurative usage, rather than the literal meanings above.
• 'Decapitation' is similarly used as a military term to refer to the targeting of the leader of a country or army, such as the United States' "decapitation attempt" against Saddam Hussein.

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/20/sprj.irq.target.saddam/&e=912

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• The term decapitation strike used in the theory of nuclear warfare also derives from this meaning, when aimed at a command/control center, or capital city. The term was also used in the media with regards to the above attempt on Hussein in 2003.