A heraldic or artistic representation of a scythe or curved blade, used in medieval coat-of-arms and decorative designs.
From Old French 'faulx', derived from Latin 'falx' meaning 'sickle' or 'curved blade'. This is a borrowing from heraldic vocabulary where Latin terms were commonly used. The 'falx' was a famous Roman weapon—a curved blade used in warfare.
The Roman 'falx' was so effective as a weapon that the Roman historian Josephus specifically noted how Dacian soldiers wielded it! It was a curved blade that could cut through shields and armor, making it one of the few weapons that could penetrate Roman defenses—which is why seeing 'faulx' in heraldry often indicated martial prowess.
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