—v.tr. & intr. break into fragments.
—n. a small thin sharp-edged piece broken off from wood, stone, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
splinter-bar Brit. a crossbar in a vehicle to which traces are attached; a swingletree. splinter group (or party) a group or party that has broken away from a larger one. splinter-proof proof against splinters e.g. from bursting shells or bombs.
Derivatives:
splintery adj.
Etymology: ME f. MDu. (= LG) splinter, splenter, rel. to SPLINT
Useful english dictionary. 2012.