sliver

A piece of any substance; as wood torn or split off. This word is, in this country, commonly pronounced slĭver [note: it's spelled "sl i-breve ver"]; but the English orthoëpists all pronounce it slīver [note: spelled "sl long-i ver"].--Worcester.

When frost will not suffer to dike and to hedge,

Then get thee a heat, with thy beetle and wedge;

Once Hallomas come, and a fire in the hall,

Such slivers do well for to lie by the wall.--Tusser, Husbandry.

Alas! that he all hole or of him some slivers

Should have his refute in so digne a place,

That Jove, him sone out of your herte race.--Chaucer, Troil. and Cress. B. 3.

In New England this word is used as a verb as well as a noun.

As there was nothin' else to get hold of; I just slivered a great big bit off the leg of the chair, and made a tooth-pick of it.--Sam Slick in England.