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 WebThis test is usually done to identify allergies to pollen, mold, pet dander, dust mites and foods.—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024 Common allergies are pollen, peanuts, mold, and animal dander, but rare food allergies to allergens like beer and coffee beans exist.—Jennifer Sabour, Health, 10 May 2024 Your face is exposed to a lot of different elements throughout the day that could cause a flare-up, including dust mites, makeup, sun, wind, dander, and pollen, Dr. Davis says.—Alice Oglethorpe, SELF, 10 May 2024 Lucky for you, this Bissell vacuum has a specialized brush that is designed to suck up every last bit of fur, dander, and dust.—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 17 Apr. 2024 According to the brand, the purifier can snatch up to 99.97 percent of airborne germs and allergens from the air, including dust, pet dander, pollen, and smoke.—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 According to the brand, it’s equipped with 99.97 percent filtration efficiency to capture all sorts of germs and allergens from the air, including pollen, dust, smoke, and pet dander.—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024 Pollution, dust, mold and pet dander also can trigger allergy symptoms.—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 Equipped with a powerful motor and two cleaner heads, the Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum easily picks up dirt, dust, and pet dander from carpet and hard flooring.—Toni Sutton, Peoplemag, 18 Mar. 2024
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.
Share