Hitch. A knot or noose in a rope for fastening it to a ring or other object; as, a clove hitch, a timber hitch.
Hivites. A Canaanitish people, who in the time of Jacob are found occupying the uplands of Ephraim, and later the slopes of Hermon and region westward towards Tyre. They were conquered by the Hebrews, and they became menial subjects of Solomon.
Hobeliers. In the Middle Ages, a species of light horsemen, chiefly intended for reconnoitring, carrying intelligence, harassing troops on a march, intercepting convoys, and pursuing a routed army; the smallness of their horses rendering them unfit to stand the shock of a charge. Spelman derives the name from hobby, a small horse. Camden used the word Hoblers for certain light horsemen, who were bound by the tenure of their lands to maintain a light horse, for giving notice of any invasion made by enemies, or such like peril towards the sea-side.
Hobits. Small mortars of 6 or 8 inches bore mounted on gun-carriages; they were in use before the howitzer.
Hochebos (Fr.). Certain soldiers among the ancients, who were so called from their brandishing the pike. This word has likewise been applied to the pike itself.
Hochkirch. A village of Saxony, 7 miles southeast of Bautzen. Here Frederick the Great was completely defeated by the Austrians under Daun, October 14, 1758. A conflict between the Russians and Prussians and the French, in which the latter were victorious, took place here May 22, 1813.
Hochstadt. A town of Bavaria, situated on the left bank of the Danube. It is noted for a battle, generally known as the battle of [Blenheim] (which see), in which the French and Bavarians were defeated by the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugène, and which took place between this town and Blenheim in 1704. In 1800, the French under Moreau totally defeated the Austrians near here.
Hohenlinden. A village of Bavaria. It is noted for the defeat of the Austrian army in 1800, by the French under Moreau.
Hohenstaufen. A celebrated family of German princes, which kept possession of the imperial throne from 1138 to 1254, and died out in 1268. The first of the line was Friedrich von Büren, who received the name on account of having removed his dwelling from a valley auf den Staufen (“up the hill” or “mountain”). His son Friedrich von Staufen, or Hohenstaufen, served under Henry IV., and distinguished himself greatly in the battle of Merseburg, for which the king awarded him the duchy of Swabia. He also fought against the pope in Italy, while holding the position of regent of Germany. Died in 1105.
Hohenzollern. The name of an ancient princely German family, from which the kings of Prussia are descended. The name is derived from the castle of Zollern, in Swabia, which is said to have been built by Tassillon or Thasilio about 800.