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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, Health, 4 Sep. 2025
However, O'Connor says your curtains and drapes still collect dust, pet dander, cooking odors, and other airborne particles that can affect indoor air quality.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 15 Aug. 2025
For pet owners looking to manage dander, odors, and airborne hair, this air purifier from Winix is a solid choice.
—Michelle Rostamian, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Rated our best value vacuum, senior SEO analyst Stewart Savin needed something that could tackle pet dander and fluff above all else.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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dander
noun
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