Andiron
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side plural-normally
"The furniture was old-fashioned and massive. The great brass andirons on the wide hearth stood like sentinels proclaiming and guarding the dignity of the family. The spreading antlers on the wall testified to a mighty hunter in some past generation."
- 2 metal supports for logs in a fireplace wordnet
Example
More examples"The furniture was old-fashioned and massive. The great brass andirons on the wide hearth stood like sentinels proclaiming and guarding the dignity of the family. The spreading antlers on the wall testified to a mighty hunter in some past generation."
Etymology
From Middle English aundire, aundiren, from Old French andier (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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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.