Firedogs

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Metal stands placed in a fireplace to hold burning logs and improve airflow
2. Two or more metal bars forming a rack used to elevate firewood inside a hearth
3. Heat-resistant devices set within a fireplace to support wood while it burns

Etymology: "Firedogs" is the plural of "firedog," a compound of "fire" and "dog." The "dog" element is the interesting part: the andirons were named after the animal, most likely because their paired, upright iron forms were thought to resemble a crouching or standing dog, with the two supports behaving like a pair of guardians flanking the flames. Andirons went by many names in English, and "firedog" belongs to that family of animal-shaped and descriptive terms for the same object. The plural is simply the form used when speaking of a pair or set, since a fireplace held two of these supports, one on each side of the logs.

Synonyms: andirons, fire dogs, grates