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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SPLINT, n. Also splent. [splɪnt, splɛnt]

1. As in Eng., now dial., a chip, splinter, fragment. Comb. splint-new, adj., completely new, brand new (Ags., Fif., w.Lth., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1971). Cf. Spleet, Splinter, Split.Fif. 1893 G. Setoun Barncraig 32:
We'll hear this one splent new.

2. A hard, coarse coal which tends to splinter when fractured and burns with great heat, a bituminous shale intermediate between cannel coal and common coal, freq. in comb. splint coal (m.Sc. 1971). Also in n. Eng. mining usage. Adj. splintie, -y, of the nature of splint, or hard laminated coal.Edb. 1707 Edb. Courant (1–4 Aug.):
The great Splintie Coall of Woolmot, which was so advantagious for the Brewers.m.Lth. 1763 Caled. Mercury (12 Feb.) 71:
A Large Quantity of Splint Coals upon the Coalhill of Gorton.Fif. 1772 Edb. Ev. Courant (2 May):
Sixteen seams of workable coals, one half of which are of the splent and other hard kinds.Rnf. 1782 G. Crawford Hist. Rnf. 133:
Light or splint coal, which would rise in pieces six feet long, nine inches broad, and six thick.Fif. 1844 P. Chalmers Dunfermline I. 34:
Splint coal, great and chews, sold at 8/4 per ton.Lth. 1887 P. M'Neill Blawearie 57:
The men had first to descend one of these stairs to the splint seam.Lnk. 1920 Memoirs Geol. Survey Scot. 61:
This coal was rather splinty in character.m.Sc. 1937 Econ. Geol. Cent. Coalfield I. 160:
Splint coal. — Hard coal, with a dull lustre and uneven fracture, which does not cake or break up in a furnace.