WordGarden.iosickle
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈɪkəl/
US
- /ˈsɪkəl/
Meanings
Noun
a short-handled curved tool for cutting grass or crops
a crescent-shaped form or object
Beyond the definition
Imagine a farmer working in a field of golden wheat. They may be holding a sickle, a small farming tool with a curved blade used to cut crops or grass by hand. It is a bit like a smaller scythe, made for closer, more careful work. The curved shape also appears in art and symbols, especially in images connected with harvest, old stories, or death. You might notice it in ancient pictures linked to farming or powerful gods.
The word "sickle" comes from Old English sicel, meaning "a curved blade." People have used this tool for thousands of years, long before modern farm machines. The Grim Reaper is more often shown with a larger scythe, but the sickle has a similar look and can carry some of the same feeling in stories and pictures. Even today, gardeners and farmers in many parts of the world still use it for jobs that need careful cutting.
A sickle is a handheld farming tool with a curved blade, usually used for cutting grain, grass, or other crops by hand. People commonly use it to harvest plants such as wheat, barley, rice, and rye. Unlike a scythe, which is larger and swung with two hands, a sickle is smaller and used with one hand in a shorter, more controlled motion.
Historically, sickles were essential tools for survival, allowing communities to gather food from wild grains and cultivate early farms. They've been found in archaeological sites dating back to Neolithic times, demonstrating their long-standing importance in human history. The shape itself is iconic: that distinctive crescent curve has become a symbol of harvest, agriculture, and mortality in various cultures.
Beyond its practical use, the sickle appears often in mythology and art. In Greek mythology, Cronus used a sickle to overthrow his father, Uranus. It is also linked with Saturn, the Roman version of Cronus, and appears in some older symbols tied to astrology and alchemy. Although large machines have replaced it on many big farms, the sickle is still useful in small gardens, for careful harvesting, and in places where modern equipment is not practical.
So, whether you're picturing a farmer bringing in the harvest, an ancient god wielding power, or simply needing to trim some unruly plants, the sickle represents both a vital tool and a powerful symbol deeply rooted in human history and culture.
Examples
- 1
Farming
The farmer cut the long grass with a sickle.
- 2
Barn storage
Several old sickles were hanging on the wall of the barn.
- 3
Political symbol
The flag showed a hammer and sickle in the corner.
- Phrasehammer and sickle
a political symbol linked with communism
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- sicklenounverbadjective
Forms
- sicklespluralnounverbadjective
- sickling-ing formverbnounadjective
- sickledpast tenseverbnounadjective