sickle



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:


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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