Gland
Gland turns up in 2 fields: valves, mechanical. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Gland in valves
The part that presses down on the packing to load it against the stem, adjusted by the gland nuts.
A gland follower sits on top of the packing set and a gland flange or plate pulls it down through two studs and nuts. Taking up on the gland nuts adds compression to stop a stem leak, until the follower bottoms out in the stuffing box and there is no adjustment left. Fitters talk about tightening the gland or snugging the gland nuts as the first fix for any stem leak.
"No more travel on the gland, the follower is bottomed out, so it needs a repack, not more torque."
Gland in mechanical
A housing and compression collar that forces packing material tightly against a moving shaft.
A sealing assembly where a rotating or reciprocating shaft passes through a pressure vessel, like a pump casing or a valve body. It consists of a stuffing box filled with braided packing and a follower nut or plate that compresses the packing. Tightening the follower squeezes the packing radially against the shaft to stop fluid leaks while allowing the shaft to move.
"The main feed pump is dripping too much, go tighten the gland a quarter turn."