splint

American  

[splint] / splɪnt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• splintlike adjective
• unsplinted adjective

Etymology

Origin of splint

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

Example Sentences

The centre was set up around 60 years ago by a Belgian Catholic association and has a workshop for producing prostheses, splints and braces.

From Barron's

He wanted to keep playing, though, so trainers applied a splint that was essentially a popsicle stick.

From Los Angeles Times

Jones survived the strongest hurricane in Jamaican history while he was injured, wearing a homemade splint on his right leg from a fracture he suffered during a biking accident before Melissa hit.

From BBC

A large orbital prosthesis and neck scar splints have been made with the aid of the centre's technology.

From BBC

“Falling off a cliff, having to splint her leg. You don’t splint your leg unless your leg is broken and if your leg is broken, you’re not walking miles on it.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• brace