hessian

3 definitions found

hessian - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hessian \Hes"sian\, a.
     Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     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 (Zool.), 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.
        [1913 Webster]

  Hessian \Hes"sian\, n.
     1. A native or inhabitant of Hesse.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A mercenary or venal person. [U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: This use is a relic of the patriot hatred of the
           Hessian mercenaries who served with the British troops
           in the Revolutionary War.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     3. pl. See Hessian boots and cloth, under Hessian, a.
        [1913 Webster]

hessian - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

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