{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} (Zo["o]l.), a small dipterous fly or midge
({Cecidomyia destructor}). Its larv[ae] 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.
2. A mercenary or venal person. [U. S.]
Note: 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.