dander

noun

dan·der ˈdan-dər

Synonyms of dander next

: dandruff

specifically : minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin that may be allergenic

: anger, temper

now don't get your dander up

Did you know?

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

Recent Examples on the Web It’s built with a filtration system that traps 99.9% of common household allergens, including pesky pet dander. —

Deanna Pai, Glamour, 21 Nov. 2023 Pet dander, however, is much smaller at around 6 microns. —

Alida Nugent, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023 These are essential for removing airborne pollutants like smoke, mold, and bacteria, as well as allergens like pet dander, dust mites, and pollen. —

Lauren Levy, Health, 26 Sep. 2023 Scrub the Entire House with These On-Sale Vacuum Cleaners 7 hr 5 min ago Gather all the dust, pet hair, and dander for good with these powerful vacuum cleaners that are sure to make a huge difference in your cleaning regime. —

Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 11 July 2023 Limit your exposure to allergens, such as dust, mold, pet dander, and pollen. —

Health Editorial Team, Health, 10 Nov. 2023 Think about rug placement Spot-clean the right way Dogs and cats bring a lot to a home: joy, love and companionship — but also dirt, hair, dander and stains of the, um, more unpleasant variety. —

Jandra Sutton, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 In addition to removing smoke particles from the air, this small air purifier can also rid the air of dust, dander, and odors. —

Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 July 2023 The vacuum is also equipped with a multi-stage filtration system that captures 99 percent of dust, pet allergens, and dander. —

Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 27 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.