sickle

American  

[sik-uhl] / ˈsɪk əl /

noun

• sickles
  plural

1. an implement for cutting grain, grass, etc., consisting of a curved, hooklike blade mounted in a short handle.

2. Astronomy. Sickle, a group of stars in the constellation Leo, likened to this implement for its curved, sickle-like shape.

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sickle British  

/ ˈsɪkəl /

noun

1. an implement for cutting grass, corn, etc, having a curved blade and a short handle

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• sickles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sickle

First recorded before 1000; Middle English sikel, Old English sicol; cognate with Dutch zikkel, German Sichel, all ultimately derived from Latin secula, equivalent to sec(āre) “to cut” + -ula -ule

Explanation

A sickle is a tool with a handle and a curved metal blade that workers use for trimming grass or harvesting crops. Put a hammer next to a sickle and boom, there’s the symbol for communism. Farmers use sickles to clear brush or cut grain crops by hand. In some parts of the world, sickles are also used as weapons and for cooking. The sickle often represents an agricultural working class, notably in the crossed hammer and sickle symbol of the former Soviet Union and current Communist and Socialist parties around the world. Sickle comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to cut."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sickle sickles

In 2015, the sickle cell-related disintegration of his hips prompted Young’s transfer to a low-security prison, Federal Medical Center Lexington.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

People with sickle cell are often at an increased risk of contracting serious infections or they can become anaemic, which is when red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen around the body.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

The Cambridge, Mass.-based biopharmaceutical company said it has discontinued its pociredir program for the treatment of sickle cell disease and launched “a comprehensive review of strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value.”

From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026

A model of how one of GluBio’s experimental ‘molecular glue’ drugs causes two proteins in the human body, WIZ and cereblon, to stick to each other in a way designed to relieve sickle cell disease.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 11, 2026

In her hands was a sickle moon, and behind her was an outcrop of spindly red trees with branches that looked like crooked fingers.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

“Even in the doctor’s office, in the cards that show up when we’re showing each of Puss’ deaths, there’s a fancy little border: It’s an icon of the Wolf with sickles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2023

On a street in Romania in 2004, a young boy sold Mr. Kalb a souvenir for $16: a set of Soviet-era binoculars etched with red stars, hammers and sickles, and crossed Kalashnikov rifles.

From New York Times ● Jan. 8, 2023

“You can’t buy new sickles for combines anymore,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 21, 2022

Eighteen-year-old Noor Mohammad and 25-year-old Ahmad keep swinging their sickles to clear a remaining metre of grain.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2022

And then, after handing her my spare set of sickles, we secure our weapons and are off into the night.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• bayonet
• blade
• cutter
• dagger
• machete
• scalpel
• skewer
• sword