Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GANNERS, GANERS, n.pl. Also gon(n)er (Cai.); gammers (Sh. 1900 E.D.D.).
1. A disease of cows (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Cai. 1900 E.D.D., goner, 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73, gonner; Sh., Cai. 1954), “enlargement of the papillae on the inside of a cow's lips, now esp. a swelling of the inside of the lips, preventing the cow from chewing her food” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), ganers).
2. A pig's snout (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 73).
[Norw. dial. ganer, pimples in the mouth of horned cattle, pl. of gan, the mouth of an animal, gan(n)ers really being a double pl. The form gammers is prob. due to the influence of Gam. Meaning 2. is doubtful.]
