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Webster 1913 Edition

Andiron

And′iˊron

,
Noun.
[OE.
anderne
,
aunderne
,
aundyre
, OF.
andier
, F.
landier
, fr. LL.
andena
,
andela
,
anderia
, of unknown origin. The Eng. was prob. confused with
brand-iron
, AS.
brand-īsen
.]
A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side; a firedog;
as, a pair of
andirons
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Andiron

AND'IRON

,
Noun.
An iron utensil used, in Great Britain, where coal is the common fuel, to support the ends of a spit; but in America, used to support the wood in fire places.

Definition 2024

andiron

andiron

English

Noun

andiron ‎(plural andirons)

  1. A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side; a firedog; as, a pair of andirons.
  • For usage examples of this term, see Citations:andiron.

Translations

Etymology

Middle English anderne, aunderne, aundyre, from Old French aundire, aundirne, andire, andirne (compare French landier), possibly from Gaulish anderon ‎(“heifer”) (compare Welsh anner, annair ‎(“heifer”), Breton annoar ‎(“heifer”)), from Proto-Celtic *anderā ‎(“young woman”), due either to their somewhat animal-like appearance of four legs or to the prominent figuring of bull and heifer design elements; compare its alternative names of fire-dog and dog-iron. Spelling influenced by iron.

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