Hessian

American  

[hesh-uhn] / ˈhɛʃ ən /

adjective

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

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Hesse.

2. a Hessian mercenary used by England during the American Revolution.

3. a hireling or ruffian.

4. (lowercase) burlap.

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

Hessian ¹ British  

/ ˈhɛsɪən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Hesse

2. 1. a Hessian soldier in any of the mercenary units of the British Army in the War of American Independence or the Napoleonic Wars

   2. any German mercenary in the British Army during the War of American Independence

3. a mercenary or ruffian

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adjective

1. of or relating to Hesse or its inhabitants

hessian ² British  

/ ˈhɛsɪən /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• half-Hessian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Hessian

1670–80; Hesse, Germany + -ian

Example Sentences

“They don’t know what a chinch bug or a Hessian fly is up there.”

From Literature

Blinding bolts stabbed down like Hessian bayonets.

From Literature

Instead he saw a man in a silver hat—a Hessian.

From Literature

Nate crept closer until he could see that the hand was attached to a man—the Hessian.

From Literature

He shrugged it off, and used the Hessian’s razor-sharp bayonet to help him tear off the bottom of the coat.

From Literature