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A 'sickle' is a curved, hand-held agricultural tool typically used for harvesting grain crops before the advent of modern harvesting machinery. It consists of a curved blade with a short, one-hand handle attached. The inside of the curve is sharp, so that the user can swing the blade against the base of the crop, catching it in the curve and slicing it at the same time. It is sometimes referred to as a 'grasshook'. A similar tool is the bagging hook which was larger and stronger. Both tools were in turn superseded by the scythe, and later version were more developed tool for reaping by adding a cradle just above the blade. The most noticeable difference between a sickle and the scythe is the size and shape of the blade - a Scythe blade is more linear whereas a sickle blade is more in the shape of a C with a point at the top, and the handle. The short handled sickle was used in a stooping position (terrible for backache) whereas the scythe was used in an upright standing position.
A blade which is used to cut the silica-rich stems of cereal crops acquires a characteristic sickle-gloss, or wear pattern. When this pattern appears on ancient stone tools, it can indicate early use or development of agricultural use.

In Greek myths, the sickle was used as a weapon by Cronus and Perseus.

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Additional uses

See also

Additional uses

★ The Sickle is used as part of the well known symbol of the Hammer and sickle, which is the symbol of Communism or Revolutionary Socialism. The sickle represents the agricultural working class or peasantry in this symbol.

★ 'Sickle' is a fictional unit of money in the Harry Potter series.

★ 'SS-25 Sickle' is the NATO reporting name for the RT-2PM Topol intercontinental ballistic missile.

★ Tacitus reports that golden sickles were used in Druidic rituals.

★ 'Sickle' is also a slang word that girls say meaning good mostly used in Brighton. Where as boys say 'Sick!'.

See also

★ Hammer and sickle

★ Scythe

★ Sickle-sword

★ Kama

★ Sickle Probe