sickle
An implement having a semicircular blade and short handle, used for cutting long grass and cereal crops.
sickle: the curved blade that cuts grain and grass
A sickle is a hand tool with a short handle, typically 4 to 6 inches, and a curved blade that sweeps outward in a semicircle or partial circle. The cutting edge is usually 12 to 16 inches long, sharpened on the inside of the curve. Operators grip the handle and draw the blade toward them in a slicing motion, using the curve to gather and cut stems of grain, hay, or brush in a single sweep.
The blade is traditionally made from steel, hardened and tempered to hold an edge through repeated use. Modern versions use carbon steel or spring steel; the curve allows the user to sever multiple stems at once, making it far more efficient than a straight blade for standing crops. Weight typically ranges from 8 ounces to 2 pounds depending on blade length and thickness. The handle may be wood, bamboo, or molded plastic.
Variants and regional use
Sickles vary by region and crop. The Japanese kama has a more pronounced curve and shorter blade, around 6 to 8 inches, designed for rice harvest. European grass sickles tend to have gentler curves and longer blades for hay. Some designs include a thumb loop or finger guard. In mechanized agriculture, the sickle survives mainly in smallholder and subsistence farming, particularly in rice-growing regions of Asia and parts of Africa where wet paddies and difficult terrain prevent tractor use.
The tool's effectiveness depends on blade sharpness and proper technique. A dull sickle crushes stems instead of cutting cleanly, increasing plant disease susceptibility and raising labor time. The curved blade also demands less wrist strength than a straight blade, reducing fatigue during long harvest days, though it requires learned muscle memory for efficient use.
The name sickle comes from the Latin secula, itself derived from secare, meaning to cut. The tool has remained nearly unchanged for two thousand years, suggesting near-perfect adaptation to its task. In industrialized grain production, sickle bar mowers and combine harvesters replaced hand sickles in the 20th century, but the handheld sickle remains standard equipment wherever mechanization is impractical or economically unfeasible.