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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
Dan Simms, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Six out of 10 are exposed to cat or dog dander.
—Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
With eight out of 10 Americans exposed to dust mites and six out of 10 exposed to pet dander, these strategies are relevant to nearly every household.
—Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026
Vacuuming even gets rid of illness-causing viruses and bacteria, as well as allergens like dust mites and pet dander, to help keep you healthy.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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dander
noun
