behead Copy link Outline 1. secūri fĕrio, 4, or percŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, 3 (the former usu. in imperf. tenses)2. securi nĕco, 1 (less frequent)3. dētrunco, 14. dēcollo, 1 • behead: 1. secūri fĕrio, 4, or percŭtĭo, cussi, cussum, 3 (the former usu. in imperf. tenses): Cic.: Liv. 2. securi nĕco, 1 (less frequent): Liv. 3. dētrunco, 1: bodies b.'d with a sword, gladio detruncata corpora, Liv. 4. dēcollo, 1: Sen. Apocol.: Suet. N.B. The axe (securis) was the legitimate instrument of decapitation; hence securi ferio, etc. are the proper expr. for the punishment of beheading: detrunco is to sever a man's head from his body, in battle or elsewhere (= caput alicui praecidere, abscidere): decollo is a late and inelegant word.