A traditional wooden scythe

A scythe (IPA: [sαɪð], most likely from Old English siðe, sigði) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing and reaping grass or crops. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (972x1278, 412 KB) Summary Summary A picture, of a Scythe taken with a digital camera. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (972x1278, 412 KB) Summary Summary A picture, of a Scythe taken with a digital camera. ... Articles with similar titles include the NATO phonetic alphabet, which has also informally been called the “International Phonetic Alphabet”. For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words, see IPA chart for English. ... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon[1], Old English: ) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... A hand tool is a device for doing a particular job that does not use a motor, but is powered solely by the person using it. ... A self propelled Case Windrower. ... Hay bales after harvest in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany In agriculture, harvesting is the process of gathering mature crops from the fields. ... Natural vegetation dominated by grasses Grass is a common word that generally describes a monocotyledonous green plant in the family Poaceae. ... Agriculture (encompasses farming, ranching, and the tending of orchards and vineyards) is the production of food, feed, fiber, fuel and other goods by the systematic raising of plants and animals. ...

Structure and use

Using a scythe

A scythe consists of a long (about 170 cm) wooden shaft called a snath (modern versions are sometimes made from metal and/or plastic) with a perpendicular handle at one end and another roughly in the middle. The handle at the end of the snath could be omitted but the handle in the middle of the snath is a must for farming versions, as it is used to control the position of the blade. A long blade (roughly 60-80 cm, approx. 26"-30") with a slight curve perpendicular to the snath is mounted at the other end. Image File history File links ScytheUser_fx_wb. ... Image File history File links ScytheUser_fx_wb. ... The metre, or meter (symbol: m) is the SI base unit of length. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily loses electrons to form positive ions (cations) and has metallic bonds between metal atoms. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

A scythe is used by holding the handles such that the blade is approximately parallel to the ground (with the heel nearly touching the ground) and, on completing the length of the acres in question by walking in a straight line, one performs the very last cut by rotating one's torso from side to side, as the arms maintain the blade's constant position over the ground.

Sharpening a scythe blade is done by peening the leading edge of the blade. In some uses, such as mowing grass, the blade-edge is flattened to a thickness resembling paper. After peening, the edge is finished and subsequently maintained with a whetstone. A 380 mm (15 in) ball-peen hammer. ... An oil stone Sharpening stones are used to grind and hone the edges of steel tools and implements. ...

History

A modern scythe

The scythe appeared in Europe during the 12th and 13th centuries. Initially used mostly for reaping grass. It replaced the sickle as the tool for gathering crops by the 16th century, the scythe allowing the reaper to stand rather than lean over. The addition of fingers behind the blade cutting edge produced the cradle which soon replaced the scythe in grain harvesting. In the developed world, all of these have now largely been replaced by motorized lawnmowers and combine harvesters. scythe, picture taken by User:kku 2003 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... scythe, picture taken by User:kku 2003 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... Using a sickle A Adam is a curved, hand-held agricultural tool typically used for harvesting grain crops before the advent of modern harvesting machinery. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... An agricultural tool, based on the scythe, used to reap grain. ... A developed country is a country that has achieved (currently or historically) a high degree of industrialization, and which enjoys the higher standards of living which wealth and technology make possible. ... A lawn mower (often spelled as one word—lawnmower) is a machine (electric or mechnical) used to cut grass to an even length. ... A postage stamp of a combine honors Russian agriculture. ...

The Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet in Sheffield, England is a museum of a scythe-making works that was in operation from the end of the 18th century until the 1930s. This was part of the former scythe-making district of north Derbyshire, which extended into Eckington. Other English scythe making districts include that around Belbroughton. Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet in Sheffield, England is a steel working site with a very long history. ... This article is about the city in England. ... The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. ... ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The Allen Scythe was a motorized grass cutter with a toothed blade which slid back and forth across a stationary toothed blade to produce a scissor action. It was manufactured between 1935 and 1973 in Oxford, England. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The naming of the haymaker punch is said to have originated from the use of the scythe - due to the similarity in the movement of the body during each movement. Haymaker may refer to: A type of punch, a wild swing with all the persons might to knock out the opponent. ...

Scythes in national culture

The curved blade of the scythe is clearly shown

The scythe is still an indispensable tool for farmers in developing countries and in mountainous terrain. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1632x1232, 571 KB) Summary Summary A picture, of a Scythe taken with a digital camera. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1632x1232, 571 KB) Summary Summary A picture, of a Scythe taken with a digital camera. ...

In Romania, for example, in the highlands landscape of the Apuseni mountains, scything is a very important annual activity, taking about 2-3 weeks to complete for a regular house. As scything is extremely exhausting physical activity and is relatively difficult to learn, needing years of experience to perform the action properly, farmers help each-other by forming teams. It is also why after each day's harvest, the farmers tend to celebrate by having a small feast where they dance, drink and eat, being careful to keep in shape for the next day's hard work. The Apuseni Mountains is a mountain range in Transylvania, Romania, which belongs to the Western Carpathians. ...

Among Basques scythe-mowing competitions are still a popular traditional sport, called segalaritza (from sega: scythe). The contenders compete to cut a defined extension of grown grass before his rival does the same. Languages Basque - few monoglots Spanish - 1,525,000 monoglots French - 150,000 monoglots Basque-Spanish - 600,000 speakers Basque-French - 76,000 speakers [4] other native languages Religions Traditionally Roman Catholic The Basques (Basque: Euskaldunak) are an indigenous people[5] who inhabit parts of northwestern Spain and southwestern France. ...

The Norwegian municipality of Hornindal has three blades of scythes in its coat-of-arms. County District Nordfjord Municipality NO-1444 Administrative centre GrodÃ¥s Mayor (2003) Bjørn Lødemel (H) Official language form Nynorsk Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 333 192 km² 179 km² 0. ...

Other uses for the scythe

A war scythe has had its blade transformed so that it extends upright from the staff, and is used much like a halberd. It was widely used by Polish peasants (kosynierzy) in the 18th and 19th centuries. A more advanced Double or "Dire" Scythe is used among those more advanced with pole-arms. The Double Scythe consists of a straight or curved snath depending on user's preference and two blades, on opposing sides of the snath facing opposite directions such as to create a circle. It is the belief of those that use the Double scythe that it is the most perfect melee weapon due to its shape being a complete circle. Another version is a hand-held version common to Asian cultures called a "Kama". The Kama is a ninjutsu weapon and is often used in conjunction with a chain and a kunai on the opposing end. The user would throw the Kama and at the split second before it hit the target the user would pull on the chain to create a snap with the Kama similar to that of a scorpion sting. Combatants Poland Russia Commanders Tadeusz KoÅ›ciuszko Fiodor Denisov Strength 4 440 and 11 cannons 5 000 and 30 cannons Casualties 500 1100 The Battle of RacÅ‚awice was one of the first battles of the Polish KoÅ›ciuszko Uprising against Russia. ... Aftermath of the Battle of RacÅ‚awice. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ninjutsu ) started out as a set of survival skills that were used by groups of people who lived in mountainous regions of Japan. ...

The scythe also plays an important traditional role, often appearing as weapons in the hands of mythical beings such as Father Time, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Grim Reaper (Death). This stems mainly from the Christian cultural interpretation of death as a "harvest of souls." The image of a scythe also appears in the emblems for death-related or death-themed groups such as death metal bands. The war scythe has also been included in a myriad of video games and movies, and the farmer's scythe with perpendicular blade has been used as a form of visual imagery in Western literature. A 19th century depiction of Father Time, cradling Baby New Year. ... Four horsemen redirects here. ... Death, as a skeleton carrying a scythe. ... Death metal is a heavy metal subgenre. ... Namcos Pac-Man was a hit, and became a universal phenomenon. ...

See also: scythes in popular culture

A scythe comes in handy when a citys landscaping needs meet the demands of backyard rabbit farmers The scythe is seen handled by the Grim Reaper, the mythological personification of death. ...

External links

Two handles used for grip

• Antique Farm Tools
• The oldest European style scythe maker in the USA: The Marugg Company established 1873
• Scythe Connection information page on the scythe
• A Czech translation of Scythe Connection and a member of the Scythe Retail Network

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Category:Scythes