An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Sichel

by Friedrich Kluge

Sichel, f., ‘sickle,’ from the equiv. MidHG. sichel, OHG. sihhila, f.; corresponding to Du. zikkel, AS. sicol, E. sickle. It is perhaps borrowed from Lat. secula (Ital. segolo, ‘bill, hedging bill’). On account of the agreement of the E. with the G. term, it must have been introduced in the 5th cent., which date also explains the permutation of Lat. k to HG. ch. On the other hand, Sichel and its cognates may be regarded as genuine Teut. words (Teut. sikilô-); the G. word looks like a diminutive of ModHG. Sech, which points to Teut. sëko-, and more remotely to the Aryan root seg, sok (see Sense).