Adjacent Words

hessian definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (19th century) a man's high tasseled boot [syn: Hessian boot, hessian, jackboot, Wellington, Wellington boot]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 1710 1. capitalized a. a native of Hesse b. a German mercenary serving in the British forces during the American Revolution; broadly a mercenary soldier 2. chiefly British burlap

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & adj. --n. 1 a strong coarse sacking made of hemp or jute. 2 (Hessian) a native of Hesse in Germany. --adj. (Hessian) of or concerning Hesse. Phrases and idioms: Hessian boot a tasselled high boot first worn by Hessian troops. Hessian fly a midge, Mayetiola destructor, whose larva destroys growing wheat (thought to have been brought to America by Hessian troops). Etymology: Hesse in Germany

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hessian Hes"sian, a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians. Hessian boots, or Hessians, boot of a kind worn in England, in the early part of the nineteenth century, tasseled in front. --Thackeray. Hessian cloth, or Hessians, a coarse hempen cloth for sacking. Hessian crucible. See under Crucible. Hessian fly (Zo["o]l.), a small dipterous fly or midge (Cecidomyia destructor). Its larv[ae] live between the base of the lower leaves and the stalk of wheat, and are very destructive to young wheat; -- so called from the erroneous idea that it was brought into America by the Hessian troops, during the Revolution.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Hessian Hes"sian, n. 1. A native or inhabitant of Hesse. 2. A mercenary or venal person. [U. S.] Note: This use is a relic of the patriot hatred of the Hessian mercenaries who served with the British troops in the Revolutionary War. 3. pl. See Hessian boots and cloth, under Hessian, a.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Hessian is a thick, rough fabric that is used for making sacks. (mainly BRIT; in AM, use burlap)