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.

When corn has once felt the sickle, it has no more benefit from the sunshine. --Shak.

2. (Astron.) A group of stars in the constellation Leo. See Illust. of Leo.

Sickle pod (Bot.), a kind of rock cress (Arabis Canadensis) having very long curved pods.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)