hex1

[heks] /hɛks/
verb (used with object)
1.
to bewitch; practice witchcraft on:
He was accused of hexing his neighbors' cows because they suddenly stopped giving milk.
noun
2.
spell; charm:
With all this rain, somebody must have put a hex on our picnic.
3.
a witch.
Origin
1820-30; < German Hexe witch; see hag1
Related forms
hexer, noun

hex2

[heks] /hɛks/
adjective, Informal.
1.
hexagonal:
a bolt with a matching washer and hex nut.
2.
hexadecimal (def 1).
Origin
1920-25; by shortening

hex.

1.
hexagon.
2.
hexagonal.
British Dictionary definitions for hex

hex1

/hɛks/
noun
1.
  1. short for hexadecimal
  2. (as modifier): hex code

hex2

/hɛks/
verb
1.
(transitive) to bewitch
noun
2.
an evil spell or symbol of bad luck
3.
a witch
Derived Forms
hexer, noun
Word Origin
C19: via Pennsylvania Dutch from German Hexe witch, from Middle High German hecse, perhaps from Old High German hagzissa; see hag1
Word Origin and History for hex
v.

1830, American English, from Pennsylvania German hexe "to practice witchcraft," from German hexen "to hex," related to Hexe "witch," from Middle High German hecse, hexse, from Old High German hagazussa (see hag). Noun meaning "magic spell" is first recorded 1909; earlier it meant "a witch" (1856).

Slang definitions & phrases for hex

hex

noun

A jinx or curse; the Indian Sign, Whammy: I lose every time, must be a hex on me

[1909+; ultimately fr German Hexe, ''witch'']


hex in Technology


1. hexadecimal.
2. A 6-pack of anything (compare quad). Neither usage has anything to do with magic or black art, though the pun is appreciated and occasionally used by hackers. True story: As a joke, some hackers once offered some surplus ICs for sale to be worn as protective amulets against hostile magic. The chips were, of course, hex inverters.
3. The hash character, used to introduce hexadecimal constants in some assembly languages.
[Jargon File]
(1995-03-06)

Related Abbreviations for hex

hex.

  1. hexagon
  2. hexagonal