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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
Ho Lin, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
In addition to its strong suction and versatility, the vacuum’s five-layer filtration system traps tiny particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 2 Feb. 2025
Every house can benefit, but our typical customers fall into three categories: those who struggle with allergies and asthma, homes that have a smoker, and pet owners, including homes with large birds, which create lots of dander.
—Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 6 Dec. 2024
Certain Amazon vacuums even come with unique attachments like pet nozzles specifically designed to remove dander and fur clinging to furniture and upholstery.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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dander
noun
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