Smithereens
/ˌsmɪð.əˈriːnz/noun
Small fragments or pieces, especially after something breaks or explodes.
Did you know?Smithereens is a real English word, but its origin is obscure; it likely comes from Irish English, and the explosive ending may have been shaped by the familiar plural -eens sound rather than any ancient occult root.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
smithereens
“Small bits or fragments; pieces scattered by breaking or impact”
Irish English
English
smidiríní
“Small fragments or splinters”
Irish Gaelic
Gaeilge
smidirín
“A small fragment or splinter”
Modern English
English
smithereens
“A word for tiny broken pieces, especially after violent destruction”