A metal support shaped like a decorative stand that holds burning logs in a fireplace.
From Middle French 'andier,' possibly from Old French 'andier' meaning a stand or support. The word may derive from the name of a craftsperson or from Gallo-Romance roots related to standing or supporting structures. The modern sense solidified in English by the 16th century.
Andirons often came in pairs and were considered status symbols in medieval and colonial homes—their ornamental designs (shaped like animals, mythical creatures, or heraldic symbols) announced your wealth and artistic taste to every visitor who saw your fireplace.
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