splinter
SPLIN-ter
/ˈsplɪntər/
A small, sharp, slender fragment of wood, glass, or metal broken off from a larger main body and lodged in skin or material.
Refers to the sharp foreign fragment itself when acting as a noun, or the act of shattering into sharp shards when used as a verb.
The story behind the word. Originating in Middle Dutch and Middle Low German 'splinte' (a pin or strip split off), the word entered Middle English to describe fragments driven off during wood chopping or spear impacts.
Word relationships
- sliver: Sliver refers broadly to any thin piece cut off, whereas splinter usually implies a sharp, jagged break.
- shard: Shard specifically refers to sharp fragments of broken glass, ceramic, or pottery, rather than wood.
Commonly confused with
- splint: A splint is a rigid support tool for stabilizing broken bones, whereas a splinter is a sharp microscopic wood or metal sliver.
Word family
- splintered (adjective): Broken into thin, sharp pieces.
- splintering (noun/verb): The process of breaking apart into sharp fragments.
Collocations
- remove a splinter
- wooden splinter
- splinter group
- splinter into pieces
Example sentences
- "He caught a painful wooden splinter in his thumb while sliding his hand down the unvarnished deck railing." Home injury
- "The political coalition began to splinter under pressure from internal arguments." Figurative breakdown
Memory hook
SPLIT wood leaves a sharp SPLINTER behind. Sharp embedded wood sliver.
When not to use
Do not use 'splinter' for large blunt wooden beams or smooth rounded pebbles.
Fun facts
- The body often forms a small localized pimple or pus pocket to naturally push an unremoved wooden splinter out of the epidermis.
Explore more words
Fragmentation, faction, balkanization, schism, dissension, crumble
Also appears in
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