etymology for deaner?

[Bernard W. Kane]

Possible source: G Diener
my Cassell's says = (man)servant, attendant
in the sense of clean-up man?
and cf. Dienst = service, post, duty
Dienstlichkeit = serviceableness, service, employment
Any List member strong on medical history? Possible that late 19C medical
students went to study abroad, e.g. in Germany, before US med schools
achieved status, and picked up local school slang? Not too far-fetched?

Bernie Kane
non-academic lurker
mailto:bkane at tigger.jcnc.net