hanse

Plural: hanses

Noun

• A medieval guild or league of merchants.
• Alternative form of Hanse, a merchant guild or a former commercial league of German cities.
• The guildhall of a Hanse.
• A fee payable to the Hanse, particularly its entrance fee and the impost levied on non-members trading in its area.
• That part of an elliptical or many-centred arch which has the shorter radius and immediately adjoins the impost.

Examples

• The collective knowledge of the Scrabble HANSE was formidable.

Synonyms

Hanseatic League, guild, guildhall, hanse-gild, hanse-house, hanse-penny, hansing, hansing-silver