hesher

English

Etymology

Derived from Hessian: so called due to long hair and warlike personality akin to that of the Hessian mercenaries.

Noun

hesher (plural heshers)

1. (slang) A diehard enthusiast of heavy metal music.

   That guy has long hair, rides a motorcycle, and wears t-shirts of his favorite heavy metal bands with a leather jacket to his college classes. He is a hesher.

   • 1994, SPIN, volume 9, number 12, page 30:

     You remember the heshers. Those guys who hung out in the back corner of the high-school parking lot, listening to the Scorps on the stereo in their souped-up Chevy Nova with the mag wheels and dual overhead cams.

   • 2012, Stewart Dean Ebersole, Jared Castaldi, David A. Ensminger, Barred for Life, page 76:

     To be a hesher, you blared the more rebellious Heavy Metal music of the day (AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Accept), drove a muddy pick-up truck to school every day, and wore a blue jean jacket and shit-kicker boots everywhere.

See also

• metalhead