Definition of "ganger"

ganger

/ˈɡæŋə(ɹ)/

noun
plural gangers
1. (chiefly Scotland) One who or that which walks or goes; a goer; a walker.
2. A horse that goes quickly.
3. (business, rail transport) One who oversees a gang of workmen.
  Quotations
  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
  'My dad was a railway ganger.'
  1996, Janette Turner Hospital, Oyster, paperback edition, Virago Press, page 159
4. (coal mining) One who is employed in conveying the coal through the gangways.
5. (nautical) 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.