scythe

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   cut with a scythe

   scythe grass or grain

2. 2
   noun

   An instrument for mowing grass, grain, etc. by hand, composed of a long, curving blade with a sharp concave edge, fastened to a long handle called a snath.

   And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defence Save breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.

3. 3
   verb

   To attack or injure as if cutting.

   The boy began to keen, and the high-pitched noise scythed through Song's head.

4. 4
   noun

   an edge tool for cutting grass

5. 5
   noun

   A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots.

6. 6
   noun

   The tenth Lenormand card.

7. 7
   verb

   To use a scythe.

8. 8
   verb

   To cut with a scythe.

Etymology

From Middle English sythe, sithe, from Old English sīþe, sīgþe, sigdi (“sickle”), from Proto-West Germanic *sigiþi, from Proto-Germanic *sigiþiz, *sigiþō, derived from *seg- (“saw”), from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut”). Immediate Germanic cognates include Middle Low German sēgede, Dutch zicht, Icelandic sigð (all “sickle”). More distantly related with Dutch zeis, German Sense (both “scythe”). Also akin to English saw, which see. The silent c crept in during the early 15th century owing to folk-etymological association with Medieval Latin scissor (“tailor, carver”), from Latin scindō (“to…