hessian

noun

hes·​sian ˈhe-shən 

1

capitalized

a

: a native of Hesse

b

: a German mercenary serving in the British forces during the American Revolution

broadly : a mercenary soldier

2

chiefly British : burlap

Examples of hessian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With a great backing band of long-haired hessians and a few swirls of sampled atmospherics, the singer, dressed in a black-and-chrome bondage skirt, got a perverse glee out of upending expectations. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2023

Remember that iconic image of Washington crossing the Delaware to make a surprise attack on the Hessians? —Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, 4 May 2017

A gust of wind lifted a roadside hessian screen, revealing Hitler’s army, mustered for the invasion. —The Hive, 24 Jan. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

Hessian

noun

Hes·​sian

ˈhesh-ən

: a German soldier serving in the British forces during the American Revolution

Etymology

from Hesse, a region in Germany