Past tense of hex; to cast a curse or spell on someone, or to bring bad luck.
From Pennsylvania Dutch 'hexe' (to bewitch), derived from German 'Hexe' (witch). The term became popular in American English through contact with German settlers in Pennsylvania.
The American tradition of 'hexing' comes directly from Appalachian folklore and Pennsylvania Dutch culture, where elaborate folk magic systems with roots in medieval German witchcraft traditions still influence local legends today.
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