Sickle \Sic"kle\, n. [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.
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When corn has once felt the sickle, it has no more
benefit from the sunshine. --Shak.
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2. (Astron.) A group of stars in the constellation Leo. See
Illust. of Leo.
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Sickle pod (Bot.), a kind of rock cress (Arabis
Canadensis) having very long curved pods.
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Sickle
of the Egyptians resembled that in modern use. The ears of corn
were cut with it near the top of the straw. There was also a
sickle used for warlike purposes, more correctly, however,
called a pruning-hook (Deut. 16:9; Jer. 50:16, marg., "scythe;"
Joel 3:13; Mark 4:29).
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