decapitation

Etymology

From French décapitation.

noun

1. Beheading; the act of beheading or decapitating.
   If the headsman's axe was sharp and his aim was true, decapitation was a quick and relatively painless form of death.
2. The ousting or destruction of the ruling body of a government or other organization.
   A decapitation strike carried out by drone killed many of the country's senior generals.
3. (politics) The unseating of a senior politician.
   The decapitation of the Foreign Secretary was a significant publicity coup for the opposition.
   The Lib Dem contender hoping to accomplish a bit of pre-emptive decapitation is Andrew Crawford. 2005, Simon Henig, Lewis Baston, Politico's Guide to the General Election 2005, page 223
   Some also thought that the Lib Dem decapitation strategy had kept him cornered in his constituency during the campaign, unable to play a wider role. 2009-05-01, Andrew Denham, Kieron O'Hara, Democratising Conservative leadership selection: from grey suits to grass roots, page 108
   Nearing 2.30, stoking fears of a disastrous night for the Lib Dems, the Tories achieved their first "decapitation" ‑ a visibly shocked Lembit Opik, in once-safe Montgomeryshire ‑ while evading their own biggest risk of high-profile embarrassment: Oliver Letwin held Dorset West. 2010-05-07, Oliver Burkeman, “UK election results 2010: A war of words deep into the night”, in The Guardian