Brewer's: Mary Anne

or Marianne. A slang name for the guillotine. (See below.)

Mary Anne Associations
Secret republican societies in France. The name comes about thus: Ravaillac was instigated to assasinate Henri IV. by reading the treatise De Rege et Regio Institutione, by Mariana, and as Mariana inspired Ravaillac “to deliver France”, the republican party was called the Mary-Anne.

“The Mary Annes, which are essentially republicans, are scattered about all the French provinces.” —Disraeli: Lothair.

Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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