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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
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 26 Nov. 2025
Pet dander or skin particles can seep into the fibers and form a small.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2025
Covering areas up to 1073 square feet, this powerful air purifier removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles between 0.1 and 0.3 microns, including dust, pollen and dander.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Nov. 2025
Managing environmental triggers such as dust, pollen, pet dander, cigarette smoke and strong odors is also important.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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dander
noun
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