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Hansa

noun
Han·​sa | \ ˈhan(t)-sə How to pronounce Hansa (audio) , ˈhän-(ˌ)zä How to pronounce Hansa (audio) \
variants: or Hanse \ ˈhan(t)s How to pronounce Hanse (audio) , ˈhän-​zə \

Definition of Hansa

1 : a league originally constituted of merchants of various free German cities dealing abroad in the medieval period and later of the cities themselves and organized to secure greater safety and privileges in trading
2 : a medieval merchant guild or trading association

Other Words from Hansa

Hanseatic \ ˌhan(t)-​sē-​ˈa-​tik How to pronounce Hanseatic (audio) \ noun or adjective

First Known Use of Hansa

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for Hansa

Hansa from Medieval Latin, from Middle Low German hanse; Hanse from Middle English Hanze, from Anglo-French hanse, from Middle Low German

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The first known use of Hansa was in the 15th century

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