sikkel

Sikkel (Dutch for “sickle”) is the term for a hand-held agricultural tool with a curved blade used for harvesting grain and cutting grasses. The blade is typically short and hooked, set at an angle to a wooden or composite handle, allowing the user to strike downward with a sweeping motion close to the ground. The sickle has been used in traditional farming for centuries and remains common in small-scale or garden tasks where power machinery is impractical.

Design varies by region, but the typical form features a single-edged blade forged from steel, with the curve designed to ease the cutting of standing stems. Some versions have a serrated edge or reinforced tang. Handles are usually wooden, though metal or plastic grips are found on modern versions. Replacement blades and different blade shapes exist for specific crops or tasks.

In culture and symbolism, the sickle is associated with agriculture and rural labor. It is one half of the hammer-and-sickle emblem used to represent workers and peasants in various political contexts. The term sikkel also appears in compounds such as sikkelcelziekte or sikkelcelanemie, referring to the sickle cell condition in Dutch medical terminology.

Etymology: The Dutch word sikkel is cognate with German Sichel and English sickle, reflecting shared Germanic roots. See also: sickle, scythe, hammer and sickle, sikkelcelziekte.