splinter

Etymology 1

From Middle English splinter, from Middle Dutch splinter, equivalent to splint + -er.

noun

1. A long, sharp fragment of material, often wood.
   1. A small such fragment that gets embedded in the flesh.
2. A group that formed by splitting off from a larger membership.
3. (bridge) A double-jump bid which indicates shortage in the bid suit.

Etymology 2

From the noun splinter.

verb

1. (intransitive) To come apart into long sharp fragments.
   The tall tree splintered during the storm.
2. (transitive) To cause to break apart into long sharp fragments.
   His third kick splintered the door.
3. (figurative, of a group) To break, or cause to break, into factions.
   The government splintered when the coalition members could not agree.
   The unpopular new policies splintered the company.
4. (transitive) To fasten or confine with splinters, or splints, as a broken limb.
   it will be very hard for Me to Splinter up the broken confuséd Pieces of it. 1659, Matthew Wren, Monarchy Asserted Or The State of Monarchicall & Popular Government