hessian crucible

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Crucible \Cru"ci*ble\ (kr[udd]"s[i^]*b'l), n. [LL. crucibulum a hanging lamp, an earthen pot for melting metals (cf. OF. croisel, creuseul, sort of lamp, crucible, F. creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. kr[=u]sul, LG. kr["u]sel, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes cup, crucible, Dan. kruus, Sw. krus, E. cruse. It was confused with derivatives of L. crux cross (cf. Crosslet), and crucibles were said to have been marked with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring the chemical operation. See Cruse, and cf. Cresset.]

1.A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as metals, ores, etc. [1913 Webster]

2.A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal. [1913 Webster]

3.A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction. [1913 Webster]

Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from the place of manufacture. [1913 Webster]

Hessian \Hes"sian\, a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians. [1913 Webster]

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 (Zool.), 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. [1913 Webster]