splint

[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.
verb (used with object)
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.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English < Middle Dutch or Middle Low German splinte; cf. splinter
Related forms
splintlike, adjective
unsplinted, adjective
Examples from the web for splint
  • The evidence gathered will support the effectiveness of specific splint design.
  • Place a rigid splint on the underside of the wrist, hand, and forearm.
  • If this does not help, you may need to try wearing the splint during the day.
  • Use a splint to keep the knee straight until you see a doctor.
  • splint or sling the injury in the position in which you found it.
  • Rest and protecting the affected joint with a splint can also promote recovery.
  • One splint is softer and incorporates more of the hand.
British Dictionary definitions for splint

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.
(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
verb
7.
to apply a splint to (a broken arm, etc)
Derived Forms
splintlike, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Middle Low German splinte; related to Middle Dutch splinte splint, Old High German spaltan to split
Word Origin and History for splint
n.

c.1300, "plate of armor," probably from Middle Low German splinte, splente "thin piece of iron," related to Middle Dutch splinte "splint," probably ultimately from PIE *(s)plei- "to split, splice" (see flint). Cognate with Danish splint "splinter," Swedish splint "wooden peg, wedge." Meaning "slender flexible slip of wood" is recorded from early 14c.; specific surgical sense is attested from c.1400.

splint in Medicine

splint (splĭnt)
n.

  1. A rigid device used to prevent motion of a joint or of the ends of a fractured bone.

  2. A dental appliance put on the teeth to protect them from grinding or from moving out of place.

v. splint·ed, splint·ing, splints
To support or restrict with a splint.