Forms: α. 4–6 splente, 4–9 splent (5 splentt, 6 splenntt, spleynt). β. 5–6 splynt(e, splinte, 6– splint. [a. MDu. splinte (Du. splint), or MLG. splinte, splente (LG. splinte, splente, and splint, whence G., Da., Sw., Norw. splint) metal plate or pin, = OHG. splinza ‘repagulum, pessulus,’ of doubtful etymology: cf. SPLINE sb. and SPLINTER sb.]
1. One of the plates or strips of overlapping metal of which certain portions of mediæval armor were sometimes composed; esp. one of a pair of pieces of this nature used for protecting the arms at the elbows.
α. 13[?]. Coer de L., 4979. He was armyd in splentes off steel.
1374. Acc. John de Sleford, in For. Acc. 49 Edw. III B. In … xj paribus splentes, ij paribus tibialium.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 2061. The splent and the spleene on the spere lengez!
1474. Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1879), I. 194. Tha sal be … welbeseyn with Jakkis, hattis, and splentis.
1530. Palsgr., 274. Splent, harnesse for the arme, garde de bras.
1561. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1835), 193. A stuffed Jacke, a payre of splents.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), I. 281. The number of iiijc speiris weill arrayit in jake and splent and wther airmor.
a. 1802. Kinmont Willie, xvii. in Scott, Minstrelsy. He has calld him forty marchmen bauld,… With spur on heel, and splent on spauld.
1819. Scott, Leg. Montrose, viii. Such force, as to drive the iron splents of the gauntlet into the hand of the wearer.
fig. c. 1450. St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 6320. When he forthe went, Aboute his nek agayne sho [a snake] cleuyd. Shame mare þan him greuyd Of þat sary splent.
β. 1499. Crt. Rolls Maldon, Essex, Bundle 58 No. 5. Unum par brygonders, 1 par splynts.
1517. in Archaeol., XLVII. 310. dcxl splyntes, and dcccviij salettes.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 237. They carye … certeyne armure of golde: especially great and rounde pieces on theyr brestes, and splintes on there armes.
1819. Scott, Ivanhoe, ii. The knees and feet were defended by splints, or thin plates of steel, ingeniously jointed upon each other.
1824. Meyrick, Armour, III. 27. Having not only splints at the elbows, but the breast and back-plates made flexible in the same manner.
b. Zool. (See quot.)
1896. trans. Boas’ Zool., 408. True scales; if these are much broader than they are long, as on the ventral side of the body in Snakes, they are termed splints.
2. A slender, moderately long and freq. flexible, rod or slip of wood cut or cleft off and serving for some particular purpose, esp. as a lath or wattle, or prepared for use in some manufacture.
The exact meaning in the first two quotations is uncertain.
α. c. 1325. Gloss. W. de Bibbesw., in Reliq. Antiq., II. 84. Splentes, trenchons.
c. 1340. Nominale (Skeat), 449. Traches et trenchons, Sulle-trees and splentes.
1348. in 1st Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. (1874), 65/1. For splentes for the vineyard, 7d. For hordlis, 4s. 6d.
1410. Crt.-roll Gt. Waltham Manor (MS.), Defrondaverunt salices … ad valenciam ii carectat. Splents, pretium viiid.
c. 1450. Two Cookery-bks., 73. Ley splentes vnderneth and al abouȝt the sides, that the Capon touche no thinge of the potte.
1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 122. Whan the swarme is knytte, take a hyue, and splente it within with thre or foure splentes.
1530. Palsgr., 274. Splent for an house, laite.
1594. Barnfield, Affect. Sheph. (Arb.), 13. Or wilt thou in a yellow Boxen bole, Taste with a woodden splent the sweet lythe honey?
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 459. When the wood is cut into many clefts & splents, fresh and green, they are heaped vp on high [etc.].
1847. Halliw., Splent, a lath…. The term is still in use in Suffolk. Splents are parts of sticks or poles, either whole or split, placed upright in forming walls, and supported by rizzers [= poles] for receiving the clay daubing.
β. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. cxxviii. (1495), 933. Calathus is a baskette made of splyntes to beere fygges therin.
1463. Crt.-roll Gt. Waltham Manor (MS.), Pro splintes inde habend. pro camera ad finem orientalem ejusdem domus. Ibid. (1483), Reparabunt … dictam domum et cameram in daubitura, videlicet cum Splynts et Cley mixt. cum stramine.
1577. Harrison, England, II. xii. 84 b/2. An ouerthwart post in their walles, wherevnto they fasten their Splintes or radles.
1598. Florio, Assicella, a little board or a planke or splint of thin boords.
1633. Quarles, in P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., Commend. Verses. Mans Bodie’s like a house: his greater bones Are the main timber; and the lesser ones Are smaller splints.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., 215. The Hive being taken and housed,… loosen the ends of the splints with your Finger.
1751. J. Bartram, Observ. Trav. Pennsylv., etc. 48. The 2 splints of wood spreading each side, directs the point into the fish.
1809. A. Henry, Trav., 14. The bark is lined with small splints of cedar-wood.
1864. G. L. M. Strauss, etc., Engl. Workshops, 231. The paraffin dipped splints are taken to the wood-match-framing department.
1885. Ellen Day Hale, in Harper’s Mag., March, 559/1. We take a broom splint sometimes, or a penknife, or a pin.
b. Mil. (See quot.)
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Splint.… A tapering strip of wood, used to adjust a shell centrally in the bore of a mortar.
3. A splinter of wood or stone; a chip or fragment. Now chiefly north. dial.
α. c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 7397. Here speres brast In splentes.
1495. [see β].
1574. Hyll, Bees, xxxvii. Of it selfe this draweth forth thornes or splents of wood runne deepe into the fleshe.
1612. North’s Plutarch, 1126. So soone as ever they pulled out the head and splent of the dart.
1849–. in dial. glossaries (Durh., Cheshire, Northumbld.).
β. 1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XI. ii. (Tollem. MS.). Þe mater [of snow] is broke in brode parties, as it were splyntes [1495 splentes] of shellis.
1578. T. Procter, Gorg. Gallery, H iij b. My Hart like Ware so lightly did not brooke More then one stroke, ere Cupid brought to passe One splint of skale therof to take away.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 312/2. To extracte a Thorne or Splinte out of anye wounde without payne.
a. 1604. Hanmer, Chron. Ireland (1809), 301. The splints of broken staves fly about their ears.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., xxii. 163. These things are to bee done when splints of the scull doe pricke the menings.
1708. J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 22. If he haue not Judgment, the Shivers or Splints of the Whin or hard Stone … will Wound him severely.
1865–. in Yks. and Lancs. dial. glossaries.
1868. Whitman, Chants Democratic, Poems 147. I see the savage types, the bow and arrow, the poisoned splint, the fetish, and the obi.
4. Surg. A thin piece of wood or other more or less rigid material used to hold a fractured or dislocated bone in position during the process of reunion; by extension, any appliance or apparatus serving this purpose.
‘Splints vary almost infinitely in form and size, according to the part to which they have to be adapted, and the position in which it is to be held’ (Penny Cycl., XXII. 368/1). A number of these are specially described in recent Medical Dicts.
α. c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 63. If þat þe prickynge eiþer þe dislocacioun nediþ splentis [v.r. splyntes], make þat þe splentis & byndynge faile aboue þe wounde.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Canalis, a splent for a broken limme.
1594. O. B., Quest. Prof. & Pleas. Concern., 32* b. I had rather be packing while my bones be whole, then to be promised golden splents when they are broken.
1634. Lowe’s Chirurg., 359. Then it must be banded more slacke, using more bands and no splents.
1748. trans. Vegetius’ Distempers Horses, 181. Afterwards you shall put square Olive Splents upon it not less than four Fingers broad.
1836–8. B. D. Walsh, Aristoph., Acharnians, V. i. Prepare lint, plaister, greasy wool, and splents To bind his ancle up!
β. c. 1410. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xii. Bynde it with flexe above … with iiii. splyntes wele ybounde þerto one agaynn an other because þat þe bones shuld not remewe.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Attelles, little splintes which Surgeons set about ones legge or broken arme.
1642. J. Steer, trans. Exp. Chyrurg., xv. 63. A is a Splint of the breadth of three fingers, so long, that it may reach almost from the wrist to the elbow.
1656. Ridgley, Pract. Physick, 162. Splints … are made of much paper and then Chips of Wood.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Guide, I. vi. (1723), 93. To each Side of this Bone is fastned a Splint, in Shape like a Bodkin.
1826. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 278. Splints ought to be made of strong materials, and of a sufficient length to reach beyond the two joints nearest the fracture.
1849. H. Miller, Footpr. Creat., iv. (1874), 41. A splint of wood or whalebone fastened over a fractured toe or finger.
1876. C. Gibbon, Robin Gray, viii. His arm was still in splints.
b. transf. (See quot.)
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2280/2. Splint.… A wooden strip for splicing and stiffening a fractured bar or beam.
5. Farriery. A callous tumor developing into a bony excrescence formed on the metacarpal bones of a horse’s or mule’s leg, occurring usually on the inside of the leg along the line of union of the splint-bones with the cannon-bone.
Through-splint: see THROUGH- 2.
α. 1523. Fitzherb., Husb., § 97. A splent is the leaste soraunce that is, that alwaye contynueth, excepte lampas.
1562. Turner, Baths (1568), 2. I thinke verely that the bath of brimstone … will heale splentes, spavines, and all knobbes.
1608. Dekker, Lanth. & Candle-lt., I i b. A Horse cannot be lustie at legges, by reason that either his hoofes bee not good, or that there be Splents, or any other Eye-sore about the nether Ioynt.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 152/1. The Splent … is a spungy hard gristly bone … which by making the Horse stark, causeth him to stumble.
1721. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., III. xvi. 305. Bladders, Wind-galls, Splents, and other Swellings in the Legs and Joints.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1757), II. 67. If there be large Splents, they may truly be called Blemishes.
1830. Hinds, Osmer’s Treat. Horse, 267. Splents cause lameness.
1859. Blackw. Mag., LXXXV. 455. The animal’s legs were so enlarged by splents that they were literally cylindrical.
β. 1599. Porter, Angry Wom. Abingt., I. ii. B ij. A leg both straight and cleane, That hath nor spauen, splint nor flawe.
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1183/4. An Iron gray Gelding, having on each Leg a Splint.
1690. Dryden, Don Sebastian, I. i. Feel his legs master; neither splint, spavin, nor windgall.
1724. Lond. Gaz., No. 6266/4. Two large Splints on his two fore Legs.
1741. Compl. Fam.-Piece, III. 435. The Splint is a fixed callous Excrescence … growing on the Flat of the Inside or Outside, and sometimes on both, of the Shank Bone.
1831. Youatt, Horse, 244. The splint is invariably found on the outside of the small bone, and generally on the inside of the leg.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 312. There’s a splint on the off-leg!
b. The growth of this, as a specific malady in horses.
1594. Greene & Lodge, Looking-Gl. Lond., 266, G.’s Wks. (Grosart), XIV. 18. If he haue outward diseases, as the spavin, splent, ring-bone, wind-gall.
1639. T. de Grey, Compl. Horsem., 38. Mallenders, splent, serewe, ring-bone, and such like infirmities in the fore-feet.
1704. Dict. Rust. (1726), Splint, a Disease in an Horse.
1831. Youatt, Horse, 365. Splent.—It depends entirely on the situation of the bony tumour…, whether it is to be considered as unsoundness.
1847. T. Brown, Modern Farriery, 114. It is difficult to conceive how splent should appear on the outside of the small bones.
† 6. = TENT sb.3 2. Obs.–1
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 187. When the vineger is consumed, then put in the Opponax, and of both together make like taynters or splints and thurst them into the wound.
† 7. A separate turn or coil in a spiral. Obs.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 717. The splents of the spire are smooth and not deep, being for the most part like vnto the wreathing turnings of Snails.
8. (See quot. 1883 and SPLINT COAL.)
1789. J. Williams, Min. Kingd., I. 218. Sometimes masses of splent or parrot … will be found upon the side or at the bottom of a ravine.
1793. [Earl Dundonald], Descr. Estate Culross, 4. The Coals are partly Smithy Coals, and partly Rich Caking Splents. Ibid. There are several Seams of Dry Splents.
1849. Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms, Northumb. & Durh. (1851), 49. Splint.—Coarse grey-looking coal…. Suitable for burning lime, and the better sorts for steam purposes.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 231. Splint or Splent.… A laminated, coarse, inferior, dull-looking, hard coal, producing much white ash; intermediate between cannel and common pit coal.
1889. Pall Mall Gaz., 1 Oct., 6/3. The prices fixed for splint are 2s. higher.
attrib. 1887. P. M‘Neill, Blawearie, 57. Where the men had first to descend one of these stairs … to the splint seam.
9. attrib. and Comb., chiefly in sense 2, as splint-cutter, -cutting, -machine, -plane; splint-like adj.; splint-boot, a special boot for a horse suffering from a splint. See also SPLINT-BONE.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Splint-cutter, a shaper and maker of splints.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 4693, Web, Fetlock, Speedy, Splint,… and Strengthening Boots.
1862. Huxley, Lect. Working Men, 141. The splint-like bones in the leg of the horse.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2281/1. Splint-machine. A machine for riving or planing small slats or splints for use in making woven-slat blinds, baskets [etc.]. Ibid., Splint-plane. One for riving splints from a block or board.
1889. A. R. Wallace, Darwinism, 385. We find in the places of the second and fourth digits only two slender splintlike bones.
b. In the sense ‘made or formed of splints,’ as (in sense 1) splint-armo(u)r, (in sense 2) splint-basket, -chair, letter-case.
(a) 1842. Burn, Nav. & Milit. Dict., Écrevisse, splint-armour.
1885. Dillon, Fairholt’s Costume Eng., II. 376. Splint armour for the legs … is common in German effigies.
(b) 1867. Mrs. Whitney, Summer in L. Goldthwaite’s Life, 175. The finest and whitest and most graceful of all possible little splint baskets.
1871. B. Taylor, in Hansen-Taylor & Scudder, Life & Lett. (1884), II. xxiii. 564. An old-fashioned, high-backed splint-chair.
1889. Mary E. Wilkins, Mor. Exigency (1891), 28. There were a few poor attempts at adornment on the walls; a splint letter-case, a motto worked in worsteds [etc.].
