. A scythe (Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, 1933: Scythe) is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. Etymology "Scythe" derives from Old English siðe. Structure A scythe consists of a wooden shaft about long called a snaith, snath, snathe or sned (modern versions are sometimes made from metal or plastic). The snaith may be straight,… (More on Scythe)