Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense scythes, present participle scything, past tense, past participle scythed
1. countable noun
A scythe is a tool with a long curved blade at right angles to a long handle. It is used to cut long grass or grain.
2. verb
If you scythe grass or grain, you cut it with a scythe.
Two men were attempting to scythe the long grass. [VERB noun]
scythe in British English
(saɪð)
noun
1.
a manual implement for cutting grass, etc, having a long handle held with both hands and a curved sharpened blade that moves in a plane parallel to the ground
verb
2. (transitive)
to cut (grass, etc) with a scythe
Derived forms
scythelike (ˈscytheˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sigthe; related to Old Norse sigthr, Old High German segansa
scythe in American English
(saɪð)
noun
1.
a tool with a long, single-edged blade set at an angle on a long, curved handle, used in cutting long grass, grain, etc. byhand
verb transitiveWord forms: scythed or ˈscything
2.
to cut with a scythe
Word origin
altered (infl. by L scindere, to cut) < ME sithe < OE sithe, sigthe, scythe, akin to LowG seged < IE base *sek-, to cut > saw1, L secare, to cut
Examples of 'scythe' in a sentence
scythe
After a scythe has been taken to the public sector.
The Sun (2010)
He told me that he cuts the grass with a scythe.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He has been the victim of a series of lunges and scything challenges.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Sector heavyweights like Anglo-American have got the message and have taken a scythe to costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Most of the 100 or so locals are out working in the woods or scything the grass.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He was also booked after two scything challenges which might have earned a red card in a World Cup qualifier.