noun
Origin: 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 antho-
See andiron in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Origin:
Origin: Middle English aundiren
Origin: , alteration (influenced by Middle English iren, iron)
Origin: of Old French andier
Origin: , of Celtic origin
. Regional Note: A number of words that formerly were limited to one region of the U.S. are now used throughout the country. Andiron was once Northern, contrasting with Southern dog iron and fire dog. The Southern terms remain limited to that region, but andiron is now everywhere. Other formerly Northern words that have become national include faucet, contrasting with Southern spigot; frying pan, contrasting with Midland and Upper Southern skillet; and freestone peach, contrasting with clearseed and open peach in parts of the South. Southern words that are now used nationwide include feisty and gutters. See Note at frying pan.Learn more about andiron