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Hessian - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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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.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
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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.
Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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