D defs.my
Entry 4 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913

Hessian

/hĕsh'-ən/ · Hes·sian · IPA /ˈhɛʃən/
01 a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians.
  1. 1.
    Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians.
Phrases & compounds
Hessian boots — boot of a kind worn in England, in the early part of the nineteenth century, tasseled in front.
Hessian cloth — a coarse hempen cloth for sacking.
Hessian crucible — See under Crucible.
Hessian fly — a small dipterous fly or midge (Cecidomyia destructor). Its larvae 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.
02 n. A native or inhabitant of Hesse.
  1. 1.
    A native or inhabitant of Hesse.
  2. 2.
    A mercenary or venal person.[U. S.]
  3. 3.
    See Hessian boots and cloth, under Hessian, a. See: Hessian