Noah Webster
Sythe
SYTHE, noun [Heb. an ax.]
1. An instrument for mowing grass, or cutting other grain or vegetables. It consists of a long curving blade with a sharp edge, made fast to a handle, which in New England is called a snath, and which is bent into a convenient form for swinging the blade to advantage. The blade is hung to the snath at an acute angle.
In mythology, Saturn or Time is represented with a sythe the emblem of destruction.
2. The curved sharp blade used anciently in war chariots.
SYTHE, verb transitive To mow. [Not in use.]