*sickl*

n. [ OE. sikel, AS. sicol; akin to D. sikkel, G. sichel, OHG. sihhila, Dan. segel, segl, L. secula, fr. secare to cut; or perhaps from L. secula. See Saw a cutting instrument. ] 1. A reaping instrument consisting of a steel blade curved into the form of a hook, and having a handle fitted on a tang. The sickle has one side of the blade notched, so as always to sharpen with a serrated edge. Cf. Reaping hook, under Reap. [ 1913 Webster ]

When corn has once felt the sickle, it has no more benefit from the sunshine. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Astron.) A group of stars in the constellation Leo. See Illust. of Leo. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sickle pod (Bot.), a kind of rock cress (Arabis Canadensis) having very long curved pods. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) Any one of three species of humming birds of the genus Eutoxeres, native of Central and South America. They have a long and strongly curved bill. Called also the sickle-billed hummer. (b) A curlew. (c) A bird of the genus Epimachus and allied genera. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Furnished with a sickle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Sicklemen One who uses a sickle; a reaper. [ 1913 Webster ]

You sunburned sicklemen, of August weary. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who uses a sickle; a sickleman; a reaper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Free from sickness. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Give me long breath, young beds, and sickless ease. Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. sicolwyrt. ] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Coronilla (Coronilla scorpioides); -- so named from its curved pods. (b) The healall (Brunella vulgaris). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Made sickly. See Sickly, v. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being sickly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Compar. Sicklier superl. Sickliest. ] 1. Somewhat sick; disposed to illness; attended with disease; as, a sickly body. [ 1913 Webster ]

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Producing, or tending to, disease; as, a sickly autumn; a sickly climate. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Appearing as if sick; weak; languid; pale. [ 1913 Webster ]

The moon grows sickly at the sight of day. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nor torrid summer's sickly smile. Keble. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Tending to produce nausea; sickening; as, a sickly smell; sickly sentimentality. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Diseased; ailing; infirm; weakly; unhealthy; healthless; weak; feeble; languid; faint. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a sick manner or condition; ill. [ 1913 Webster ]

My people sickly [ with ill will ] beareth our marriage. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]