sickle
UK: ˈsɪk(ə)l | US: ˈsɪk(ə)l
n. a short-handled farming tool with a semicircular blade, used for cutting grain or tall grass
n. (symbolism) an emblem associated with agriculture or labor movements (e.g., the hammer and sickle)
sickle = sick<cut> + le<tool suffix>
- sick<cut>: From Old English sicol, derived from Proto-Germanic sikilaz (related to cutting), akin to Latin secare (to cut).
- le<tool suffix>: A diminutive or instrumental suffix in Old English, indicating a tool or small object.
Etymology Origin:
The word "sickle" traces back to ancient cutting tools, with its Germanic root reflecting the action of slicing (as in grain harvesting). The Latin cognate secare (source of "section," "dissect") reinforces this shared Indo-European heritage. Over time, the tool became symbolic of agrarian labor, notably in the Soviet emblem.
The farmer swung the sickle to harvest the wheat.
Ancient civilizations used bronze sickles for reaping crops.
The hammer and sickle flag represented industrial and agricultural workers.
She carefully sharpened the sickle before the harvest season.
Archaeologists found a rusted sickle buried in the field.