According to the Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities of Sir William Smith, the scythe, known in Latin as the falx foenaria (as opposed to the sickle, the falx messoria), was used by the ancient Romans; for illustration, Smith shows an image of Saturn holding a scythe, from an ancient Italian cameo.
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 In the developed world, all of these have now largely been replaced by motorized lawnmowers and combine harvesters.
Description :
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.
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.
(Source: WikiPedia)
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Dictio-definitions :
1. An implement consisting of a long, curved single-edged blade with a long bent handle, used for mowing or reaping. 2. A long, curved, single-edged blade with a long bent handle, used for cutting tall grass or reaping grain. 3. An edge tool for cutting grass; has a long handle that must be held with both hands and a curved blade that moves parallel to the ground.
4. Cut with a scythe, as of grass or grain.
5. A scythe-shaped blade attached to ancient war chariots.
6. An implement used for mowing (as grass) and composed of a long curving blade fastened at an angle to a long handle. 
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Usage :
1. we have found our dear child again'; and he told his wife not to use the scythe for fear she should hurt him.
2. Fifteen minutes later, the mass resumed its flight, and our travellers could, even at a distance, see the trees and the bushes entirely stripped, and the fields as bare as though they had been swept with the scythe.
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