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

“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 • May 22, 2025

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 • Sep. 24, 2024

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 • Aug. 21, 2024

Simons, wearing a splint on his thumb, addressed the crowd at Moda Center before Friday’s game.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2023

But the goat had chewed off his splint and, apparently bored with the comfort of the barn, pushed through the doors and followed Anya out to the onion fields.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• brace