Lewis & Short

dē-collo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. [collum].

  1. * I. To take off from the neck: ex collo deponere, Non. 97, 25: in tuo collo est: decolles cave, Caecil. ib.
    1. B. Trop., to deprive, rob of a thing: quibus fructibus me décolĺavi, Lucil. ap. Diom. p. 361, P.
  2. II. (lit., to strike off the head; and hence with personal object), to decollate, decapitate, behead (mostly post-class.): piratas, Fenest. ap. Diom. p. 361 P.: homines, Sen. Apocol. 6, 2; Petron. 51, 6; Schol. Juv. 13, 178; Sen. de Ira, 3, 18, 4; Vulg. Matth. 14, 10; Luc. 9, 9 al.; Aur. Vict. Epit. 19; Scrib. Comp. 194.
    Absol.: miles decollandi artifex, * Suet. Calig. 32; Sen. Contr. 9, 25, 4.