Etymograph

English

andiron

Andiron comes from Middle English aundire, and goes back to Old French andier.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400andier
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aundire
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1900andiron

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400andier
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500aundire
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1900andiron

Earliest quotation: 1900, Charles W. Chesnutt: “The furniture was old-fashioned and massive. The great brass…”

The story

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.

Every English word from Old French andier

Today it means

noun A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old French andier / andiron

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