Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of tall boot for men, popular in the 19th century, characterized by a tassel as a decorative element near the top.

Usage

• The term "Hessian boot" is a historical fashion term. It is used to describe a specific style of footwear from a past era, primarily in discussions of historical costume, military history, or 19th-century fashion.

Examples

• The portrait showed the gentleman wearing polished Hessian boots with prominent tassels.
• Hessian boots were considered fashionable riding attire for men in the Regency period.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used attributively (as a noun modifier) to describe other items in a similar style.
  • He preferred a Hessian boot design for his custom-made footwear.

Variants and Related Words

• Hessian: (Capitalized) Can refer to a German mercenary soldier, especially from Hesse, who fought in the American Revolutionary War. These soldiers were often depicted wearing this style of boot, which is the likely origin of the name.
• Boot: General term for a type of footwear that covers the foot and part or all of the leg.

Synonyms

• Jackboot: A similar style of stiff military boot, though typically without a tassel.
• Riding boot: A general term for boots designed for horse riding; Hessian boots are a specific historical type of riding boot.

Notes on Meaning

• The primary and specific meaning refers to the 19th-century boot with a tassel.
• The connection to "Hessian" soldiers is historical and etymological; the boot is named for its association with them.

Noun

1. (19th century) a man's high tasseled boot