executioner

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

executioner
    n 1: an official who inflicts capital punishment in pursuit of a
         warrant [syn: {executioner}, {public executioner}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Executioner \Ex`e*cu"tion*er\, n.
   1. One who executes; an executer. --Bacon.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One who puts to death in conformity to legal warrant, as a
      hangman.
      [1913 Webster]

from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Executioner
(Mark 6:27). Instead of the Greek word, Mark here uses a Latin
word, speculator, which literally means "a scout," "a spy," and
at length came to denote one of the armed bodyguard of the
emperor. Herod Antipas, in imitation of the emperor, had in
attendance on him a company of speculatores. They were sometimes
employed as executioners, but this was a mere accident of their
office. (See MARK, GOSPEL {OF}.)

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

EXECUTIONER. The name given to him who puts criminals to death, according to 
their sentence; a hangman. 
     2. In the United States, executions are so rare that there are no 
executioners by profession. It is the duty of the sheriff or marshal to 
perform this office, or to procure a deputy to do it for him.

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