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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCYTHE, n., v. Also sithe. Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. In combs. (1) scythe-hook, a sickle with a plain cutting edge like a scythe instead of a serrated one; (2) scythe-shank, the curved wooden handle or shaft of a scythe; (3) scythe-sickle = (1); (4) scythe-sned, = (2) (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 366; Kcd., Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc., Per. 1969); (5) scythe-straik, a piece of wood smeared over with tallow and sharp sand used for whetting scythes (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); a block of sandstone, carborundum, etc., now used for this purpose (ne.Sc., Kcb. 1969). See Straik.(1) Bwk. 1822 Farmer's Mag. (May) 235:
The Scythe-hook, or, as others term it, the Fen, or Sharping-hook.(2) Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 366:
The handles of a scythe-sned, or scythe-shank.(3) Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 1055:
The scythe-sickle is so called, because of its being provided with a cutting edge.

2. By metonymy: a scytheman, one who cuts corn in harvest (‡ne.Sc. 1969).Abd. 1930 Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 103:
The third scythe 'at vera year, aul' Tam Watson.

II. v. To cut with a scythe, mow. Gen.Sc. Rare or dial. in Eng. Hence scyther, a scytheman, mower.Abd. c.1830 in G. Greig Folk-Song iii.:
We buckle on oor finger steels And follow oot the scyther.Abd. 1863 G. MacDonald D. Elginbrod I. x.:
The best scyther in the whole country side.