HETMAN, Fr. sometimes called Atteman, a word derived from the German, which signifies the head-man, the chief of a troop. The chief general or grand general in Poland is called Hetman Wielki, and the second general Hetman Polny.
The chief or general of the Cossacks is likewise invested with this title by the sovereigns of Russia.
HEURTEQUINS, Fr. two pieces of iron resembling a knocker, which are placed over the trunnions, or axis of a cannon.
HEXAEDRON, (Hexaedre, Fr.) a solid geometrical figure, consisting of six equal sides.
HEXAGON, a figure of 6 sides and as many angles, capable of being fortified with 6 bastions. If the sides and angles be equal, it is called a regular hexagon. The side of a regular hexagon inscribed in a circle, is equal to the radius of that circle; hence a regular hexagon is inscribed in a circle, by setting the radius of 6 times upon the periphery: as 1 to 1.672, so is the square of the side of any regular hexagon to the area therefore, nearly.
Tanned HIDES, are always carried along with an army, especially in the laboratory’s stores, to protect powder or shells from rain; they are also used in batteries and in laboratories.
HIERARCHY, church government.
HIEROGLYPHICKS, (hieroglyphes, Fr.) certain mysterious characters of creatures or letters used among the Ægyptians, by which they explained to one another the principles of their religion and their maxims of philosophy, without divulging them to strangers. Arbitrary signs which represent things: the signs used in almanacs for the planets and other phenomena are hieroglyphicks.
HIGHLANDER, any person from a mountainous country.
Highlanders, the people of the north of Scotland, who wear a dress peculiar to themselves.