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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
Sarah Hudgens, Health, 9 May 2025
This cordless vac has powerful suction, cyclonic filtration, a brushless motor, an easily removable roller bar, and lights on the vacuum head to better see pet hair and dander.
—Nena Farrell, Wired News, 3 May 2025
Though most people are familiar with the common allergic asthma triggers—like pollen, dust, pet dander, or mold—many unexpected environmental factors can also cause symptom flare-ups.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
The brushroll has a tangle-resistant design to keep hair and pet dander from clogging your vacuum, and the vacuum can lay totally flat for effective under-couch cleaning or deconstruct into a hand vac size.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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dander
noun
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