Span"ner (?), n.
1.
One who, or that which, spans.
2.
The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee or carbine itself.
[Obs.]
3.
An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench; specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the couplings of hose.
4. pl.
A contrivance in some of the ealier steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
© Webster 1913.