andiron

The word 'andiron' entered English in the 14th century from the Old French andier. The French term's origin is obscure but is often speculated to derive from a Gaulish source, possibly related to a word for a young bull, hinting at the decorative bull's head motifs sometimes found on early andirons. The English spelling was later altered by folk etymology, mistakenly associating the second element with the word 'iron', the material from which the implements are typically made. This etymological reinterpretation solidified the modern spelling, even though the original French word had no connection to 'iron'.

The word is a simplex form. It is a loanword from Old French, where it existed as andier. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, though it may be from Gaulish.