shiver2

 
Pronunciation: /ˈʃɪvə/

noun

(usually shivers)
  • each of the small fragments into which something such as glass is shattered when broken; a splinter.

verb

[no object]
  • break into such splinters or fragments: the world seemed to shiver into a million splinters of prismatic colour

Phrases

shiver my timbers

a mock oath attributed to sailors.

Origin:

Middle English: from a Germanic base meaning 'to split'; related to German Schiefer 'slate'