[f. YAWN v. + -ER1.]
1. One who yawns, as from drowsiness.
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., 1. C’est un Baailleur perpetual, he is an everlasting Yawner.
1818. Bentham, Ch. Engl., 130. To procure upon an average half a dozen voluntary yawners, in addition to the compulsory ones.
1897. Voice (N. Y.), 9 Sept., 5/5. The yawner … is not being intentionally rude, but is exercising muscles which have been for a long time inactive.
2. Something that yawns; a wide ditch.
1832. Egan’s Bk. Sports, 220/2. Sir Francis Burdett, sitting erect upon Sampson, and putting his head straight at a yawner.
1852. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour, vii. Awfully stiff country this for horses that are not used to it—most likely his are Leicestershire nags, used to fly—won’t do here. If he attempts to takesome of our big banked bullfinches in his stride, with a yawner on each side, will getinto grief.
1862. Sporting Mag., June, 511. In clearing a yawner The King of the Valley covered the extraordinary space of 31 feet.
