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. See splinter
   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

In his shock, Lewis had forgotten to build any kind of splint.

From Outside Online

Look for increased injuries ranging from shin splints to stress fractures, toe trouble to tendinopathies.

From Outside Online

Now, when she knows she might be on her phone for longer periods of time, she said she uses a splint her husband 3-D printed for her that keeps her ring and pinkie fingers together.

From Washington Post

Tommy Splint was indeed disappointed at having to leave the garden class thus abruptly.

From Project Gutenberg

On this particular Sunday Tommy Splint, who was a regular attendant at the garden class, arrived late.

From Project Gutenberg

He found that his right hand was tightly and firmly bandaged, and kept still by a splint.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Gid, in his splint-bottomed chair, leaned back against the wall and feasted his eyes upon their antics.

From Project Gutenberg

He confirmed Garry's finding that the leg was not broken, and complimented him on his neat job of putting on the temporary splint.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brace