Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Sickle
Sic′kle
,Noun.
[OE.
sikel
, AS. sicol
; akin to D. sikkel
, G. sichel
, OHG. sihhila
, Dan. segel
, segl
, L. secula
, fr. secare
to cut; or perhaps from L. secula
. See Saw
a cutting instrument.] 1.
A reaping instrument consisting of a steel blade curved into the form of a hook, and having a handle fitted on a tang. The sickle has one side of the blade notched, so as always to sharpen with a serrated edge. Cf.
Reaping hook
, under Reap
. When corn has once felt the
sickle
, it has no more benefit from the sunshine. Shakespeare
2.
(Astron.)
A group of stars in the constellation Leo. See Illust. of
Leo
. Sickle pod
(Bot.)
, a kind of rock cress (
Arabis Canadensis
) having very long curved pods.Webster 1828 Edition
Sickle
SICKLE
,Noun.