smithereens

Definition

Fragments or splintered pieces; numerous tiny disconnected items.

Etymology

Uncertain. The following words, all first attested later than the headword, have been compared: * Irish smidiríní, smiodairíní (“smithereens”), from smiodar (“broken piece, fragment”) + -ín (suffix forming diminutive nouns) + -í (slender form of -aí (suffix forming plurals of some nouns)). * smither (“fragment; atom”), which would be suffixed with -een (forming diminutive nouns in Irish English). * Hiberno-English (Wexford) smaddereen, a variant of smattering (“small amount or number of something; shallow or superficial knowledge of a subject”). * Hiberno-English (Wexford) smithered, smashed

Example Sentences

• "The urn shattered into smithereens the moment it hit the ground."
• "When the waiter dropped the platter, one smithereen struck him above the knee, and the four remaining smithereens scattered across the floor."
• "The world's smallest violin / Really needs an audience / So if I do not find somebody soon (That's right, that's right) / I'll blow up into smithereens"