'behead' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'behēafdian', where 'be-' meant 'off' and 'hēafod' meant 'head'.

'behēafdian' transformed into the Middle English word 'beheveden', and eventually became the modern English word 'behead'.

Initially, it meant 'to remove the head', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.