andiron
(ˈænˌdaɪən)
Forms: 4 aundyre, 3–4 aundyrne, 4 -iren, 5 awndyryn, aundeiren, -ryn, andyron, 5–6 awnderne, 6 andyar, awndyrn, aundyern, -yron, aundernn, handern, -iron, 7 handyron, landyron, 5– andiron.
[a. OFr. andier (mod.Fr. landier, i.e. l'andier), cf. med.L. andena, anderia, anderius, mod.Fr. dialects andier, andi, andian. Its remoter history is unknown: see Diez, Skeat, and Wedgwood Contested Etymol. In Eng. the termination was at an early date identified with the word yre, yren iron, whence the later illusive spellings and-iron, hand-iron. Instances also occur of land-iron after later Fr.]
A utensil, consisting of an iron bar sustained horizontally at one end by an upright pillar or support usually ornamented or artistically shaped, at the other by a short foot; a pair of these, also called ‘fire-dogs,’ being placed, one at each side of the hearth or fire-place, with the ornamental ends to the front, to support burning wood. Sometimes ‘in a kitchen fire-place the upright support carried a rack in front for the spit to turn in’ (Wedgwood).
| a 1300 W. de Biblesworth in Wright Voc. 171 Forgé de fers, aundyrnes [v.r. in Rel. Ant. II. 84 Furchez de ferz, aund hirnes]. c 1314 Guy Warw. 250 An aundiren he kept in his honden. c 1400 Metr. Voc. in Wright Voc. 176 Stipes ut andēna (glossed a aundyre) sustentus deperit ardens. [The reading of the MS. is clear.] 1440 Promp. Parv., Awnderne [v.r. awndyryn, 1499 awndyrn], Andena, ipoporgium. 1442 in Reg. Test. Ebor. I. 56 a, Duo ferra nominata aundeiryns pro supportatione foci in aula. 1447 Par. Accts. Ludlow in Shropsh. Word-bk., Item, a pare of andirons. 1480 Caxton Ovid's Met. xii. xii, Threwe..an hevy andryon agenst his Enemyes. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, xii. §1 Andyrons Cobbardes Tongges Fireforks Gredyrons &c. 1493 in Bury Wills (1850) 82 A speete w{supt} an aundeiren. 1519 W. Horman Vulg. (in Pr. Parv. 19), I lacke a fyre pan and andyars to bere up the fuel. 1522 in Bury Wills (1850) 115 A payer of handerns. 1590 in Midl. Count. Hist. Coll. II. 31 Item..ij landyrons one fire shovell. 1591 Florio Sec. Frutes 159 Set that firebrand vpon the handiron. 1609 Acc. Feoffees of Rotherham 8 For mending of a handyron in the chamber, 8d. 1616 Ibid., For mendinge the Scowll house landyron, 8d. 1611 Shakes. Cymb. ii. iv. 88 Her Andirons..were two winking Cupids Of Siluer. 1626 Bacon Sylva §178 If you strike..an Andiron of brass, at the top, it maketh a more treble sound. 1650 Fuller Pisgah Sight iii. vi. 390 Like brazen andirons in great mens chimnies. 1789 Mrs. Piozzi Fr. & lt. I. 93 Ashes raked out from between the andirons. 1826 Scott Woodst. (1832) 187 The andirons, or dogs..for retaining the blazing firewood on the hearth. 1878 Mrs. Stowe Poganuc People xiii. 111 The social sit-down in front of the andirons. |