Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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.
\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.