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(), 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 (Zol.), a small dipterous fly or midge (Cecidomyia destructor). Its larv 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.] 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. スポンサード リンク
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