andiron

andiron (AND-ai-ern) - n., one of a pair of metal supports used for holding up logs in a fireplace.


Also called dog or fire-dog in the southern United States, but very few other places. The word dates to the 1200s as Middle English aundyr(n)e, from Anglo-French aundyre (with the 2nd syllable taken as Middle English ire/iren, iron, in part because they were generally made of iron) from Old French andier, allegedly from Gaulish *anderos, young animal, because animal heads were used as decorations on andirons.


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---L.