Hessian

[ hesh-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

a native or inhabitant of Hesse.
a Hessian mercenary used by England during the American Revolution.
a hireling or ruffian.
(lowercase) burlap.
Also called Hes·sian and·i·ron [hesh, -, uh, n , and, -ahy-ern]. (in the U.S.) an andiron having as an upright the figure of a Hessian soldier of the Revolutionary War.

Hessian

/ ˈhɛsɪən /

a native or inhabitant of Hesse
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
a mercenary or ruffian

hessian

/ ˈhɛsɪən /

Origin of Hessian¹

1670–80; Hesse, Germany + -ian

Origin of Hessian¹

C18: from Hesse + -ian

Born in the Hessian village of Rhina in 1916, Friedel was the youngest of 16 close-knit siblings and first cousins.

At one point the coach driver whipped the horses into a gallop and drove right through the Hessian army.

"No, Donop was a Hessian, hired out to the British king by his sovereign," replied her father.

Beyond this, the story perhaps has little value, except as an offset to the usual anecdotes of Hessian atrocity.

In a Hessian story a forester sees a fair swan floating on a lonely lake.

Hessian soldiers in those days even ordinarily had but few manners, but when in liquor none at all.

Marcel's sword was now making lines of light about him, and the Hessian's part in the combat soon became a defence only.

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