E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Heroic Verse.
That verse in which epic poetry is generally written. In Greek and Latin it is hexameter verse, in English it is ten-syllable iambic verse, either in rhymes or not; in Italian it is the ottava rima. So called because it is employed to celebrate heroic exploits.
