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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
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
Ideal for pet owners, the machine's tangle-free technology helps suck up fur and dander while minimizing clogs.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
Some allergy tests also check for sensitivity to fleas, human dander, and other cats, though cat-to-cat allergies are not commonly reported.
—Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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dander
noun
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