I. ˈsplin-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle Low German splinte splint
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a thin piece split or broken off lengthwise : sliver
b. : a small needlelike particle
2. : a group or faction broken away from a parent body
• splinter adjective
• splin·tery ˈsplin-tə-rē, -trē adjective
II. verb
( splin·tered ; splin·ter·ing ˈsplin-tə-riŋ, -triŋ)
Date: 1582
transitive verb
1. : to split or rend into long thin pieces : shiver
2. : to split into fragments, parts, or factions
intransitive verb
: to become splintered