Etymology Map
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Splint

2 stages from Middle Dutch to English.

Today it means a strip of rigid material used to support a broken bone

Where does the word "splint" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch splinte, adopted directly into English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
splinte
Middle Dutch · medieval
"metal plate, pin"
a thin piece of metal or wood
2
Stage 2 of 2
splint
English · 1300s
"bone support"
first for overlapping plates of armour; the surgical sense followed
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Read the full story

Splint’s story begins in Middle Dutch: splinte meant “metal plate, pin.” A thin piece of metal or wood. It reached English by 1300s as splint. First for overlapping plates of armour; the surgical sense followed. Today, splint means a strip of rigid material used to support a broken bone.