Heeltap (Crispin), a cobbler, and one of the corporation of Garratt, of which Jerry Sneak is chosen mayor,—S. Foote, The Mayor of Garratt (1763).
Heep (Uriah), a detestable sneak, who is everlastingly forcing on one’s attention that he is so ’umble. Uriah is Mr. Wickfield’s clerk, and, with all his ostentatious ’umility, is most designing, malignant, and intermeddling. His infamy is dragged to light by Mr. Micawber.
Herr Piper, “representative in New Swedeland of the Great Gustavus, the bulwark of the Protestant Religion,” and a mighty stickler for forms and ceremonies appertaining to the office.—James Kirke Paulding, Königsmarke (1823).
Heidelberg (Mrs.), the widow of a wealthy Dutch merchant, who kept her brother’s house (Mr. Sterling, a city merchant). She was very vulgar, and “knowing the strength of her purse, domineered on the credit of it.” Mrs. Heidelberg had most exalted notions “of the quality,” and a “perfect contempt for everything that did not smack of high life.” Her English was certainly faulty, as the following specimens will show:—farden, wolgar, spurrit, pertest, Swish, kivers, purliteness, etc. She spoke of a pictur by Raphael-Angelo, a po-shay, dish-abille, parfect naturals [idiots], most genteelest, and so on. When thwarted in her overbearing ways, she threatened to leave the house and go to Holland to live with her husband’s cousin, Mr. Vanderspracken.—Colman and Garrick, The Clandestine Marriage (1766).
Heimdall (2 syl.), in Celtic mythology, was the son of nine virgin sisters. He dwelt in the celestial Fort Himinsbiorg, under the extremity of the rainbow. His ear was so acute that he could hear “the wool grow on the sheep’s back, and the grass in the meadows.” Heimdall was the watch or sentinel of Asgard (Olympus), and even in his sleep was able to see everything that happened (See Fine-ear).
Heimdall’s Horn. At the end of the world, Heimdall will wake the gods with his horn, when they will be attacked by Muspell, Loki, the wolf Fenris, and the serpent Jormunsgandar.
And much he talked of...
And Heimdal’s horn and the day of doom.
Longfellow, The Wayside Inn (interlude, 1631).
Heinrich (Poor), or “Poor Henry,” the hero and title of a poem by Hartmann von der Aue [Our]. Heinrich was a rich nobleman, struck with leprosy, and was told he would never recover till some virgin of spotless purity volunteered[volunteered] to die on his behalf. As Heinrich neither hoped nor even wished for such a sacrifice, he gave the main part of his possessions to the poor, and went to live with a poor tenant farmer, who was one of his vassals. The daughter of this farmer heard by accident on what the cure of the leper depended, and went to Salerno to offer herself as the victim. No sooner was the offer made than the lord was cured, and the damsel became his wife (twelfth century).