[f. EVEN v. + -ER1.] One who or that which makes even; esp. one who makes or is a party to an equal division of anything.
a. 1400. Hymn to Virgin, in Warton, Hist. Eng. Poetry (1840), II. x. 109. Heil evenere of old lawe and of newe.
1889. Dublin Rev., April, 364. The ‘Cattle Eveners’ Pool’ in Chicago was the result of a contract between the four federated railways leading thence eastward and three large dealers. Ibid., 364. The eveners agreed in return to divide the traffic according to the terms of the railway agreement.
b. In Weaving, ‘an instrument used for spreading out the yarn on the beam’ (Jam.).
c. An apparatus for giving an equal proportion of work to horses in pulling, drawing a load, etc.
1874. Knight, Dict. Mech., Evener, a double or treble tree to ‘even’ or divide the work of pulling upon the respective horses.
