splint

UK: /ˈsplɪnt/ US: /splɪnt/ ,(splint)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

splint /splɪnt/   n. [countable]

1. Medicine a thin piece of rigid material used to prevent a fractured or dislocated bone from moving.
2. Furniture one of a number of thin strips of wood woven together to make a chair seat, basket, etc.

v. [~ + object]

3. to secure or support by means of a splint, as a fractured bone.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

splint  (splint), n. 

1. Medicine 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. Furniture one of a number of thin strips of wood woven together to make a chair seat, basket, etc.
3. Veterinary Diseases an exostosis or bony enlargement of a splint bone of a horse or a related animal.
4. Heraldry [Armor.]
   • any of a number of narrow plates or lames joined with rivets or a backing to form a piece of armor.
   • a partial vambrace protecting only the outer part of the arm.
5. British Terms a splinter of wood or stone.

v.t. 

6. to secure, hold in position, or support by means of a splint or splints, as a fractured bone.
7. to support as if with splints.

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

splint′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

splint / 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. inflammation of the small metatarsal or metacarpal bones along the side of the cannon bone of a horse
5. another word for splinter

verb

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

Etymology: 13th Century: from Middle Low German splinte; related to Middle Dutch splinte splint, Old High German spaltan to split