Dictionary

ganger en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˈɡɛ̃ŋɚ/ æ-raising
• /ˈɡeɪ̯ŋɚ/ æ-raising
• /ˈɡæŋə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɡæŋɚ/ (General-American) without æ-raising

Etymology

From Middle English ganger, from Old English gangere (“a ganger, footman”), equivalent to gang + -er. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Gunger, West Frisian gonger, Dutch ganger, German Gänger, Danish gjænger, ganger, Swedish gängare, Icelandic gangari.

Meanings

1. (Scotland) One who or that which walks or goes; a goer; a walker.
2. A horse that goes quickly.
3. One who oversees a gang of workmen.
   • Primary responsibility must rest with a ganger. He failed to appreciate the danger of disturbing the track, short of ballast, on a very hot day. 1950 March, “Notes and News: Merstham Quarry Derailment”, in Railway Magazine, page 210:
   • The length ganger saw the train passing with the van derailed and promptly telephoned the Sandbach signalman, who restored his signals to danger, but not in time to stop the train before the final derailment occurred. 1961 November, “Talking of Trains: Derailment near Holmes Chapel”, in Trains Illustrated, page 652:
   • I was sent out to a little village called Wee-Wee-Rup where the ganger, Dinny Kelly, gave me an order on the store to get a tent and blankets[.] 1933, Frank Clune, Try Anything Once, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 28:
   • 'My dad was a railway ganger.' 1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, paperback edition, Virago Press, page 159:
4. (qualifier:coal mining) One who is employed in conveying the coal through the gangways.
5. A length of chain, one end of which is fastened to an anchor when let go, when the other end is fastened to a hawser.

Forms

Relateds

footganger · black-ganger · foreganger · chain-ganger · doubleganger