1. [n]  a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal; "he got a splinter in his finger"; "it flew into flinders"
2. [v]  break up into splinters or slivers; "The wood splintered"
3. [v]  divide into slivers or splinters
4. [v]  withdraw from an organization or communion

1. \Splin"ter\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Splintered}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Splintering}.] [Cf. LG. splittern, splinteren. See
   {Splint}, n., {Split}.]
   1. To split or rend into long, thin pieces; to shiver; as,
      the lightning splinters a tree.
            After splintering their lances, they wheeled about,
            and . . . abandoned the field to the enemy.
                                                  --Prescott.
   2. To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a
      broken limb. --Bp. Wren.
   

2. \Splin"ter\, v. i.
   To become split into long pieces.
   

3. \Splin"ter\, n. [See {Splinter}, v., or {Splint}, n.]
   A thin piece split or rent off lengthwise, as from wood,
   bone, or other solid substance; a thin piece; a sliver; as,
   splinters of a ship's mast rent off by a shot.
   {Splinter bar}.
   (a) A crossbar in a coach, which supports the springs.
   (b) The bar to which the traces are attached; a roller bolt;
       a whiffletree.
   

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[Sammet 1969, p.600].