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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JAUNNER, v., n. Also janner; jawner; jauner; ja(u)nder. [′dʒɑn(d)ər, ′dʒǫn(d)ər]

I. v. 1. To talk idly or in a foolish or jocular manner (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 159; s.Sc. 1825 Jam., jaunder; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Per., Kcb., Dmf. 1959); to make desultory conversation (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Ags.⁸ 1948, rare), to prate.Cld. 1806 J. Black Falls of Clyde 133:
You teaze me, jawnering ay o' faith! faith! faith!Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 199:
They war only jokin' — they never intendit to rin — they war just jaunderin wi' the bridegroom for fun.Dmf. 1831 T. Carlyle Early Life (Froude 1882) II. 213:
All which poor Irving is pleased . . . to janner about at great length.Sc. 1835 Chambers's Jnl. (13 June) 156:
The nearest meaning of jaunder is to procrastinate or put off time foolishly, yet doing something all the time by way of an excuse for delay. . . . Yet this endless talk must not be loud; it must be carried on in a monotonous understrain.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick 93:
Ye may jaun'er on as lang as ye like for me.Sc. 1956 Bulletin (8 Aug.) 4:
A child that girned and jaunered and whickered until we were counting the stops until we reached home.m.Sc. 1997 Tom Watson Dark Whistle 55:
They jaunder th' explosion's quick,
They jaunder that nae sea can speak,
But by guid Christ it greets,

Hence jannerer, one who talks idly or foolishly (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 281; Kcb. 1959).

2. “To go idly from place to place, without having any proper object” (Bwk. 1825 Jam.).

II. n. 1. Idle, foolish talk, empty chatter, rambling conversation; sometimes in pl. (Sc. 1825 Jam., jawners; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcb. 1959). Also used attrib. and in reduplic. form jinner-janner (Dmf. 1840 Carlyle New Letters (1904) I. 85).Ayr. 1796 Burns Lass o' Ecclefechan ii.:
O, haud your tongue now, Lucky Lang, O, haud your tongue and jauner!Dmf. 1822 Blackwood's Mag. (Dec.) 321:
What but harm can happen o' this senseless jauner?sm.Sc. 1866 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Froude 1883) III. 333:
I never read such stupid, vulgar janners.Gall. 1888 G. Sproat Rose o' Dalma Linn 153:
A thing that is useful the words aye to droon, When the singin' is nocht but a jauner.

2. A person who talks foolishly or incoherently (Slk. 1825 Jam.), a chatterbox (Kcb., Dmf. 1959).Kcb.⁴ 1900:
He's a mere jaun'er when he begins about the Apostle Paul and his doctrines.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 30:
He's sic a jauner when he begins.