DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Cru·ci·ble n.
 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.
 2. A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted metal.
 3. A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible of affliction.
 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.
 ◄ ►

 Hes·sian a. Of or relating to Hesse, in Germany, or to the Hessians.
 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 larvae 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.