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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
Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
These filters are especially good at trapping tiny allergens like errant pollen grains as well as animal dander and dust that might be circulating in your space.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 2 Apr. 2025
The vacuum is equipped with two suction modes: standard, which can capture minor messes like dust and pet dander, and high for hair, crumbs, and other large particles.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
The immune system overreacts when exposed to an allergen, like pollen or pet dander.
—Carisa Brewster, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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dander
noun
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