Andiron

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈændaɪə(ɹ)n/

Definitions

1. A piece of metal furniture designed to hold logs in a fireplace while enhancing the overall appearance of the hearth area
2. A decorative tool commonly crafted from metal, utilized to securely hold logs in a fireplace while also serving an ornamental role in home decor
3. A metal frame placed in a fireplace to support firewood and improve the display of the hearth

Etymology: The andiron is a word that began as a cow. Its Old French ancestor, "andier," may come from a Gaulish word, "anderon," meaning "heifer," which is related to Welsh "anner" and Breton "annoar," both also meaning heifer. The likely reason is that the metal stands, with their pairs of legs and their bulky shape, looked a little like animals, or because bull and heifer motifs decorated them. English picked up the word in Middle English as "aundire" and "aundiren," and the spelling later shifted toward "iron," even though the metal has nothing to do with the word's origin. Other names for the same object, such as "fire-dog" and "dog-iron," show the same idea of an animal-like shape. The word is a reminder that a fireplace fixture once looked, to someone, like livestock.

Synonyms: fire dog, fireplace tool, grate, support, rack