splint

[ splint ]

noun

1. a thin piece of wood or other rigid material used to immobilize a fractured or dislocated bone, or to maintain any part of the body in a fixed position.
2. one of a number of thin strips of wood woven together to make a chair seat, basket, etc.
3. Veterinary Medicine. an exostosis or bony enlargement of a splint bone of a horse or a related animal.
4. Armor.
   1. any of a number of narrow plates or lames joined with rivets or a backing to form a piece of armor.
   2. a partial vambrace protecting only the outer part of the arm.
5. British Dialect. a splinter of wood or stone.

verb (used with object)

1. to secure, hold in position, or support by means of a splint or splints, as a fractured bone.
2. to support as if with splints.

splint

/ splɪnt /

noun

1. a rigid support for restricting movement of an injured part, esp a broken bone
2. a thin sliver of wood, esp one that is used to light cigars, a fire, etc
3. a thin strip of wood woven with others to form a chair seat, basket, etc
4. vet science inflammation of the small metatarsal or metacarpal bones along the side of the cannon bone of a horse
5. one of the overlapping metal plates used in armour after about 1330
6. another word for splinter

verb

1. to apply a splint to (a broken arm, etc)

Derived Forms

• ˈsplintˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• splintlike adjective
• un·splinted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of splint¹

1275–1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German splinte; splinter

Word History and Origins

Origin of splint¹

C13: from Middle Low German splinte; related to Middle Dutch splinte splint, Old High German spaltan to split

Example Sentences

Dad immediately diagnosed it as a small fracture, put him in a splint and didn’t charge a co-pay for his services.

From Los Angeles Times

In an interview for Saga magazine, he revealed he was still recovering from the experience, with his neck in a brace and right hand in a splint.

From BBC

Betts visited a hand specialist Monday, where he was fitted with a splint.

From Los Angeles Times

An X-ray found no fractures or vascular injuries in her hand, which was put in a finger splint.

From Los Angeles Times

Steve Gregory, a radio host from Los Angeles, knows someone who carries an inflatable splint to get early boarding privileges.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• brace