A word often misused to describe a Plymouth resident or a chav from Plymouth, "Janner" is actually used through out Devon and Cornwall, normally to refer to farmers or
people from
local families with
thick Westcountry accents and traditional outlooks - comparable with the American "Hilly billy" or "
Redneck".
The word is rumoured to derive from the fact that many locals are called John, but when asked their name will say "Moi namez Jaaan"
Whilst Janner is a blanket term to refer to anybody with strong
local origins, a farmer can also be called a "Bez"
There is a simple test to see whether or not someone is a Janner - ask the the name of a small castle town on the Devon / Cornwall border. A non Janner will say "Launceston", while the true Janner will reply "Laanson".
"Has youz met ol'
Jan Smith fram Oke'ampton way?
Ez a roit ol' janner"
"An
old Janner just drove past in his muckspreader, and now I'm covered in cow shit"