Hessian

[ hesh-uhn ]

/ ˈhɛʃ ən /

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adjective

of or relating to the state of Hesse or its inhabitants.

noun

a native or inhabitant of Hesse.

a Hessian mercenary used by England during the American Revolution.

a hireling or ruffian.

(lowercase) burlap.

Also called Hessian andiron. (in the U.S.) an andiron having as an upright the figure of a Hessian soldier of the Revolutionary War.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Hessian

1670–80; Hesse, Germany + -ian

OTHER WORDS FROM Hessian

half-Hessian, adjective

Words nearby Hessian

Hess, Hesse, Hesse, Hermann, Hesselman engine, Hesse-Nassau, Hessian, Hessian boot, Hessian boots, Hessian fly, hessite, hessonite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Hessian in a sentence

Born in the Hessian village of Rhina in 1916, Friedel was the youngest of 16 close-knit siblings and first cousins.
Survived Hitler, Returned to Germany|Steve North|May 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At one point the coach driver whipped the horses into a gallop and drove right through the Hessian army.
Beethoven in Love: The Woman Who Captivated the Young Composer|John Suchet|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"No, Donop was a Hessian, hired out to the British king by his sovereign," replied her father.
Elsie's Vacation and After Events|Martha Finley
Beyond this, the story perhaps has little value, except as an offset to the usual anecdotes of Hessian atrocity.
Tales of the Argonauts|Bret Harte

In a Hessian story a forester sees a fair swan floating on a lonely lake.
The Science of Fairy Tales|Edwin Sidney Hartland
Hessian soldiers in those days even ordinarily had but few manners, but when in liquor none at all.
In Hostile Red|Joseph Altsheler
Marcel's sword was now making lines of light about him, and the Hessian's part in the combat soon became a defence only.
In Hostile Red|Joseph Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for Hessian (1 of 2)

hessian

/ (ˈhɛsɪən) /

noun

a coarse jute fabric similar to sacking, used for bags, upholstery, etc

Word Origin for hessian

C18: from Hesse + -ian

British Dictionary definitions for Hessian (2 of 2)

Hessian

/ (ˈhɛsɪən) /

noun

a native or inhabitant of Hesse

a Hessian soldier in any of the mercenary units of the British Army in the War of American Independence or the Napoleonic Wars
US any German mercenary in the British Army during the War of American Independence

mainly US a mercenary or ruffian

adjective

of or relating to Hesse or its inhabitants

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012