馘かくす

suru verb (precursor), transitive verb

behead; decapitate

Archaic transitive verb, precursor to modern する verbs. Used in historical contexts for execution by beheading.

• 昔むかし、罪ざい人にんを馘かくすことがあった。

  In the past, criminals were sometimes beheaded.

suru verb (precursor), transitive verb

dismiss; fire

Archaic transitive verb for dismissing someone from a job; modern equivalents include 首にする or 解雇する.

• 奉ほう公こう人にんを馘かくすなど、今いまではあまり使つかわない表ひょう現げんだ。

  Expressions like 'to dismiss a servant' using 馘す are rarely used today.