- Hessian (Cloth)
"Burlap redirects here, for other uses see
Burlap (disambiguation) "Hessian or Burlap (Chiefly US) [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9506E7DA153FE633A25750C1A9619C946296D6CF TARIFF TALK HURT HESSIANS OF INDIA; Traveler Tells of Blue Times in Ca... - Article Preview - The New York Times ] ] is a coarse woven fabric usually made fromjute and alliedvegetable fiber s.The name 'burlap' appears to be of unknown origin [OED] . The name 'hessian' is attributed to the use of the fabric, initially, as part of the uniform of soldiers from the German state of
Hesse . [OED]Uses
Hessian/Burlap is often used to make sacks and
bag s to ship goods likecoffee bean s. It is breathable and thus resists condensation and associated spoilage of the contents. It is also durable enough to withstand rough handling in transit; these properties have also led to its use for temporary protection of settingcement andconcrete by the construction industry.Due to its coarse texture, it is not commonly used in modern
apparel . However this roughness gave it a use in a religious context for self-mortification , where individuals may wear an abrasive shirt called acilice or 'hairshirt' and in the wearing of 'sackcloth' onAsh Wednesday . Owing to its durability, open weave, naturally non-shiny refraction, and fuzzy texture,Ghillie suit s are often made of hessian. It was also a popular material forcamouflage scrim on combat helmets of World War Two. Until the advent of the plastic "leafy" multi-color net system following theVietnam War , burlap scrim was also woven onto shrimp and fish netting to create large militarycamouflage netting.As Hessian, it has been used by fine artists as an alternative to canvas as a stretched painting surface.
ee also
*Sackcloth and ashes
References
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