Sickle
Sickle , noun
[Old English sikel, Anglo-Saxon sicol; akin to Dutch sikkel, German sichel, Old High German sihhila, Danish segel, segl, Latin secula, from secare to cut; or perhaps from Latin 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. Compare Reaping hook, under Reap.
When corn has once felt the sickle, it has no more benefit from the sunshine.
2.
(Astronomy) A group of stars in the constellation Leo.
Collocations (1)
Sickle pod (Botany) , a kind of rock cress (Arabis Canadensis) having very long curved pods.