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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
Isabel Garcia, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Pet Dander Proteins in animal dander are common allergic triggers.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
With Shark’s True HEPA filter, which captures an impressive 99.98% of airborne particles like allergens, dust, and dander.
—Shubham Yewale, PCMAG, 28 Feb. 2025
The Ball Animal 3 is specifically designed to pick up pet dander and stray hairs off of a variety of surfaces.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 2 Dec. 2024
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“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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dander
noun
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