Sliver or Splinter?

Question

I am having an argument with my roommate about the correct word for a piece of wood, metal, or other foreign object embedded in the skin. Is this called a sliver or a splinter? Or does it matter what the object in the skin is? Does anyone know the correct medical term?

Answer 1

I don't know the proper medical term, but growing up I always referred to it as a splinter.

Answer 2

A splinter is for wood. It means a needle-like section preaking off along the grain.

metal doesn't do this neither does glass but as the word was invented before there was a possibility of people getting metal or glass in parts of their bodies, presumably it can be used for all.

A Sliver can not. A sliver is a slice.

It is rarely used for cake but more usually for bacon and fish.

Answer 3

Generally, wood is a splinter, inorganic material like glass or metal is a sliver. I've heard people call wood "slivers" but never heard a piece of glass or metal called a "splinter".

Answer 4

either one is acceptable both are foreign objects in the body. Sliver is more commonly used for things other than wood, where as splinter is more used for wood objects that get embedded in your finger.

Answer 5

both are synonymous, but i'ld usually refer to splinter if it's a piece of wood and sliver if it's something edible (a fruit or a cake).

Answer 6

they are virtually synonymous. but i would rather eat a sliver of cake than a splinter of cake.

sliv·er [sliv-er] –noun
1. a small, slender, often sharp piece, as of wood or glass, split, broken, or cut off, usually lengthwise or with the grain; splinter.
2. any small, narrow piece or portion: A sliver of sky was visible.
3. a strand of loose, untwisted fibers produced in carding.
–verb (used with object)
4. to split or cut off (a sliver) or to split or cut into slivers: to sliver a log into kindling.
5. to form (textile fibers) into slivers.
–verb (used without object)
6. to split.
[Origin: 1325–75; ME slivere (n.), deriv. of sliven to split, OE -slÄ«fan (in tōslÄ«fan to split up]

splin·ter [splin-ter] –noun
1. a small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, or the like, split or broken off from the main body.
2. splinter group.
–verb (used with object)
3. to split or break into splinters.
4. to break off (something) in splinters.
5. to split or break (a larger group) into separate factions or independent groups.
6. Obsolete. to secure or support by a splint or splints, as a broken limb.
–verb (used without object)
7. to be split or broken into splinters.
8. to break off in splinters.