scythe

1 of 2

noun

: an implement used for mowing grass, grain, or other crops and composed of a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle

Illustration of scythe

Illustration of scythe

scythe

2 of 2

verb

scythed; scything

intransitive verb

: to use a scythe

transitive verb

: to cut with or as if with a scythe
scything cornstalks

Examples of scythe in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Avenging Cossacks waited to skewer enemy soldiers on their long lances; Russian peasants simply slaughtered them with scythes. Antony Beevor, Foreign Affairs, 29 Dec. 2022 The other artifacts the research team found illustrate the ancient Celts’ proclivity for animal husbandry and farming: Blades from shears might have been used to cut sheeps’ wool, and scythes might have cut grain or grass. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024
Verb
It’s farmed using traditional methods — scythed by hand and visited each autumn by Shropshire sheep. Sarah Lyall, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2023 One fun way to encourage kids to get out into the heart of a meadow area and witness its wildlife and plants up close is to mow or scythe a maze into it that kids can run or walk through. Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 27 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for scythe 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sithe, from Old English sīthe; akin to Old English sagu saw — more at saw

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of scythe was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near scythe

Cite this Entry

“Scythe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scythe. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

scythe

noun
ˈsīt͟h,
: a tool that has a curved blade on a long curved handle and is used for mowing grass or grain by hand

More from Merriam-Webster on scythe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!