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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
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 July 2025
Its three-layer filtration system effectively eliminates 99.9% of pollutants, including dust, pollen, smoke, pet dander and VOCs.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 June 2025
And there are also year-round allergies that can be triggered by causes including dust mites, pet dander, cockroaches, indoor mold or food allergens.
—Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
Factors That Affect Couch-Cleaning Frequency Pet dander, drool, hair, and bacteria are all elements that can make a sofa need cleaning sooner rather than later, but additional factors are also at play.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Dander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dander. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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dander
noun
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