1881. Besant and Rice, Sweet Nelly, in Ten Years’ Tenant, etc., Vol. I., p. 200. I wanted to present her with something to hansel friendship.
Hanseller, subs. (common).—A street vendor; a Cheap Jack.
1851–61. H. Mayhew, Lond. Lab. and Lond. Poor, i., 392. The sellers of tins, who carry them under their arms, or in any way on a round, apart from the use of a vehicle, are known as hand-sellers.
1876. Hindley, Adventures of a Cheap Jack, p. 10. Cheap-Jacks, as they were then as now called by the people, although the term han’-seller is mostly used by themselves.
Hans-en-Kelder, subs. (old).—A child in the womb: literally, Jack-in-the-Cellar (q.v.). [From the Dutch.]
1647. Cleaveland, Character of a London Diurnall. The originall sinner in this kind was Dutch; Galliobelgicus, the Protoplast; and the moderne Mercuries, but hans-en-kelders. The countesse of Zealand was brought to bed of an almanack; as many children as dayes in the yeare.
1648. Mercurius Pragmaticus, i. The birthday of that precious new government which is yet but a Hans-en-kelder.
d. 1658. Lovelace, Poems, p. 63. Next beg I to present my duty To pregnant sister in prime beauty, Whom [who] well I deem (ere few months elder) Will take out Hans from pretty kelder.
1663. Dryden, Wild Gallant, v., Wks., i. 61 (1701). Seems you are desirous I should Father this Hans en Kelder heere.
1672. Marvell, Char. of Holland, line 65. More pregnant then their Marg’ret, that laid down For Hans-in-Kelder of a whole Hanse town.