Archaeology. a looped handle, especially of a vase.
2.
Astronomy. either of the apparent extremities of the rings of Saturn or of other planets, especially when viewed from the earth or from spacecraft under certain conditions, when they look like two handles.
Origin
1655-65; < Latin
ansa in Medicine
ansa an·sa (ān'sə) n.pl.an·sae (-sē) An anatomical structure shaped like a loop or an arc.