[Han.sa] or Hanse n [Hansa fr. ML, fr. MLG hanse; Hanse fr. ME Hanze, fr. MF hanse, fr. MLG] (15c) 1: a league orig. 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 -- Han.se.at.ic n or adj