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How did dander acquire its "temper" sense? There are several theories, though the evidence is inconclusive. It has been proposed that the meaning comes from the image of an angry person tearing out their hair by the fistful, scattering dandruff in the process. Some think it comes from a West Indian word dander, which refers to a kind of ferment and suggests "rising" anger (in English, ferment can mean "a state of unrest or excitement"). Others have suggested that the "anger" sense comes from the Dutch phrase op donderen, meaning "to burst into a sudden rage."
Examples of dander in a Sentence
Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025
The smell of pets can also be as simple as recirculating pet hair and dander that gets drawn into the system and blown out when the furnace is on.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2025
Lower the temperature in your home, open the windows, run a fan or air purifier, and avoid smoke, pet dander, and other allergens.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 3 Feb. 2025
Unfortunately, though the snuggles are comforting, letting your pets into bed also means welcoming fur, pet dander, and dirt into the sheets with you.
—Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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dander
noun
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