andiron

andiron
/and"uy'euhrn/, n.
one of a pair of metal stands, usually of iron or brass, for holding logs in a fireplace.
[1250-1300; ME aundyr(n)e, AF aundyre, with the 2d syll. taken as ME ire, iren IRON < OF andier, allegedly < Gaulish *anderos young animal (through known use of animals' heads as decorations on andirons), though supposed relation between this word and Middle Welsh anneir, Breton annoer heifer, OIr ainder young woman, poses serious phonetic problems]
Regional Variation. See dog iron, firedog.

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▪ fireplace furnishing
      one of a pair of horizontal iron bars upon which wood is supported in an open fireplace. The oldest of fireplace furnishings, andirons were used widely from the Late Iron Age. The andiron stands on short legs and usually has a vertical guard bar at the front to prevent logs from rolling off, thus giving it a somewhat doglike appearance (hence the alternative name, firedog). It was ordinarily fitted with a guard at each end when intended for use in a central open hearth, which went out of general use in the late 14th century. The guard was often cast in the form of a statue or with elaborate decoration. Plain andirons, called cobirons, with ratcheted guards holding brackets for spits, were used in the kitchen.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • andiron — [and′ī΄ərn] n. [ME aundiren (with ending altered by assoc. with IRON) < OFr andier < Gaul * andera, andiron, heifer (so named from use of bull s head as ornamentation on andirons) < IE base * andh , to sprout, bloom > Gr anthos: see… …   English World dictionary

  • Andiron — And i ron, n. [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 [=i]sen.] A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • andiron — (n.) c.1300, from O.Fr. andier, of unknown origin, perhaps from Gaulish *andero a young bull (Cf. Welsh anner heifer ), which would make sense if they once had bull s heads cast onto them. Altered by influence of Middle English iren (see IRON (Cf …   Etymology dictionary

  • Andiron — An andiron (older form anderne ; med. Lat. andena , anderia ), sometimes called a dog, dog iron, or firedog, is a horizontal iron bar upon which logs are laid for burning in an open fireplace. They are usually used in pairs. In older eras (e.g.… …   Wikipedia

  • andiron — noun Etymology: Middle English aundiren, modification of Anglo French aundyre, alteration of Old French andier Date: 14th century either of a pair of metal supports for firewood used on a hearth and made of a horizontal bar mounted on short legs… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • andiron — noun A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one being placed on each side; a firedog; as, a pair of andirons …   Wiktionary

  • andiron — Synonyms and related words: chain, coal tongs, crane, crook, damper, fire hook, fire tongs, firedog, grate, grating, grid, griddle, gridiron, grill, griller, lifter, poker, pothook, salamander, spit, tongs, tripod, trivet, turnspit …   Moby Thesaurus

  • andiron — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. firedog, grill. See heat. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. firedog, dog, metal hearth support, fireplace lift …   English dictionary for students

  • andiron — and·i·ron || ændaɪən n. one of two metal stands that hold logs in a fireplace …   English contemporary dictionary

  • andiron — [ andʌɪən] noun a metal support, typically one of a pair, for wood burning in a fireplace. Origin ME: from OFr. andier …   English new terms dictionary

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