Sliver
/ˈslɪv.ər/noun
A small, thin piece that has been cut, split, or broken from something larger.
Did you know?The word’s early meanings referred to a splinter or thin fragment, while its verb sense—meaning to cut or divide into slivers—became common later in English.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic, possibly
PGmc
*slītaną
“To split or tear apart; a proposed Germanic connection rather than a certain direct ancestor.”
Old Norse, possibly
Old Norse
slíta
“To tear, rend, or wear apart; sometimes compared with the Germanic family behind sliver.”
14th Century
Middle English
slivere
“A splinter or small fragment cut or broken from something larger.”
15th–16th Century
English
sliver
“A thin piece or fragment; the spelling settled into its modern form.”
16th Century onward
English
sliver
“To cut, split, or divide into thin pieces; later also used for narrow strips of food, wood, or material.”
Modern English
English
sliver
“A small thin fragment, especially one capable of lodging painfully in the skin.”