shard

Also sherd

[shahrd]

noun

1. a fragment, especially of broken earthenware.

2. Zoology.

   1. a scale.

   2. a shell, as of an egg or snail.

3. Entomology.,  an elytron of a beetle.

shard

/ ʃɑːd /

noun

1. a broken piece or fragment of a brittle substance, esp of pottery

2. zoology a tough sheath, scale, or shell, esp the elytra of a beetle

Word History and Origins

Origin of shard¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English sceard; cognate with Low German, Dutch schaard; akin to shear

Word History and Origins

Origin of shard¹

Old English sceard; related to Old Norse skarth notch, Middle High German scharte notch

Example Sentences

In a magnitude 8 or above, he said most buildings downtown would see all their glass shattered, and major casualties would likely be from falling shards — not collapsing buildings.

From Los Angeles Times

The cemetery temporarily shut down in 2000 when, in response to a complaint, state investigators showed up and found bone fragments and casket shards strewn on the grounds.

From Los Angeles Times

Watching Davis travel through the site, gathering pieces of metal, shards of ceramics and glass — there were things to salvage, just as her father always had.

From Los Angeles Times

Others were bloodied from shards of broken glass or hid for hours on the roofs or beneath the leaves and plastic shrouding.

From Los Angeles Times

He says this was the result of Combs smashing a glass against a wall in a fit of rage, and the shards cutting Ethan's face.

From BBC

Related Words

• fragment 
• particle 
• remnant