hanse

plural hanses · alternative hans · alternative haunse · alternative haunce

1. alternativehistoricalAlternative form of Hanse, a merchant guild or a former commercial league of German cities.

   Gilds and hanses seized control of the export trade […]

   2002, P. Boissonnade, Life and Work in Medieval Europe, page 208

   3 more examples

   The town does not seem to have had a hanse, nor have there been discovered any records showing the existence of medieval trade guilds; […]

   1911, John Rhys, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire, page 252

   In this, they resembled the alien merchant guilds and hanses of the medieval period.

   2011, Sheilagh Ogilvie, Institutions and European Trade, page 95

   For the sake of convenience the title is generally shortened to Hanse, but the initial capital is retained, not least to prevent confusion with other hanses.

   2002, T. H. Lloyd, England and the German Hanse, 1157-1611: A Study of Their Trade, page 1

   Synonyms: guild

2. historicalThe guildhall of a Hanse.

   Synonyms: guildhall, hanse-house

3. historicalA fee payable to the Hanse, particularly its entrance fee and the impost levied on non-members trading in its area.

   Synonyms: hansing, hansing-silver, hanse-penny, hanse-gild

plural hanses

1. architectureThat part of an elliptical or many-centred arch which has the shorter radius and immediately adjoins the impost.

   The building, from the tenor of the whole description, was in the style of the Renaissance, and the pillars (spiral or wreathed) probably supported the hanses, or spring of the arch.

   1846, Cambridge Antiquarian Society, Quarto Publications, volume 1, page 60

   1 more example

   Now Workmen call each End of these Arches the Hanse, which Hanses are always the Arches of smaller Circles than the Scheme, which is the middle Part of these Arches, and consists of a Part of a larger Circle […]

   1736, Richard Neve, Neve's The city and country purchaser and builder's dictionary

plural Hanses · alternative hanse · alternative Haunce · alternative Hans

1. historicalA merchant guild, particularly the Fellowship of London Merchants (the "Old Hanse") given a monopoly on London's foreign trade by the Normans or its successor, the Company of Merchant Adventurers (the "New Hanse"), incorporated in 1497 and chartered under Henry VII and Elizabeth I.

   Synonyms: guild

2. historicalThe rights and privileges of such guilds, particularly their trade monopolies.
3. historicalA commercial association of Scottish free burghs in the Middle Ages.
4. historicalThe Hanseatic League: a commercial association of German towns in the Middle Ages.

   Synonyms: Hanseatic League

5. alternativehistoricalAlternative form of hanse, the fees payable to a Hanse or its guildhall.

   Synonyms: hanse and guildhall