smithereens

Where does the word "smithereens" come from? It comes from Irish smiodar, passing through Irish before entering English (1800s).

Smithereens’s story begins in Irish: smiodar meant “a small fragment.” Meaning "a fragment" or "small piece". Within Irish, it grew into smidiríní by medieval. A diminutive plural meaning "tiny fragments". It reached English by 1800s as smithereens. Irish 'smidirín', small fragment; the Irish '-een' diminutive gives it its ending. Today, smithereens means small fragments or pieces, especially resulting from something being shattered.

1. Stage 1 · Irish · medieval smiodar "a small fragment", meaning "a fragment" or "small piece".
2. Stage 2 · Irish · medieval smidiríní "tiny fragments", a diminutive plural meaning "tiny fragments".
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s smithereens "small fragments or pieces", Irish 'smidirín', small fragment; the Irish '-een' diminutive gives it its ending.