sickle

(sik′əl)

noun

a tool consisting of a crescent-shaped blade with a short handle: used for cutting down tall grasses and weeds

Origin: ME sikel < OE sicol (akin to Ger sichel) < early WGmc borrowing < L secula < secare, to cut: see saw

See sickle in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An implement having a semicircular blade attached to a short handle, used for cutting grain or tall grass.
The cutting mechanism of a reaper or mower.

verb sick·led, sick·ling, sick·les

verb, transitive

verb, intransitive

To assume an abnormal crescent shape. Used of red blood cells.

adjective

Shaped like the blade of a sickle; crescent-shaped: a sickle moon.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sikel

Origin: , from Old English sicol

Origin: , from Vulgar Latin sicila

Origin: , from Latin sēcula; see sek- in Indo-European roots

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sickle medical definition

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