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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