Dictionary

hex sign en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈhɛks saɪn/

Etymology

Compound of hex + sign, coined in English.

Meanings

1. (Pennsylvania, US) A geometric design usually consisting of a star or flower placed in a circular field, used by the Fancy Dutch on buildings such as barns, often said to be intended as a ward against evil in former times.
   • This association will partially pay for the repainting of hex signs in the tourist areas. 1984, Thomas Edmund Graves, The Pennsylvania German Hex Sign: A Study in Folk Process, page 256:
   • Note the hex signs on the barn, an old Pennsylvania Dutch custom used to ward off the evil spirits. 2006, Patricia Wanger Smith, “Southeastern Berks County”, in Postcard History Series, Arcadia Publishing, →ISBN:
   • 1984 Futharc A Handbook of Rune Magic, Edred Thorsson, Samuel Weiser Inc, 0-87728-548-9, page 107. Common in Dutch hex signs and a powerful framework for talismans and visual magic.
   • The original hex signs were created by the Pennsylvania Dutch, a cultural group composed of several different groups of people. 2008, Ivan E. Hoyt, Hex Signs: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft, Stackpole Books, →ISBN:
2. (Germanic) A protective symbol used in Heathenry comprising a six-petaled flower or star set within a circle, as a New Age adaptation of the above.

Forms

Relateds

hex