hex

• IPA^(key): /hɛks/
• Rhymes: -ɛks

First attested about 1830, from Pennsylvania German hexe (“to practice witchcraft”), from German hexen (compare Hexe (“witch”)).[1] The noun appeared later, in the 1850s.[2] Cognate to Dutch heks (“witch”), Dutch beheksen (“to bewitch”), Old English hægtesse (“witch, hag”). Related to hag.

hex (third-person singular simple present hexes, present participle hexing, simple past and past participle hexed)

1. (transitive) To cast a spell on (specifically an evil spell), to bewitch.

hex (plural hexes)

1. An evil spell or curse.
2. A witch.
3. (rare) A spell (now rare but still found in compounds such as hex sign and hexcraft).

• hexcraft

Short for hexadecimal.

hex (uncountable)

1. (computing, informal) Clipping of hexadecimal.

Short for hexagon.

hex (plural hexes)

1. A hexagonal space on a game board.
2. (climbing) a hexagon-shaped item of rock climbing equipment intended to be wedged into a crack or other opening in the rock.

(climbing): nut

• exh