Glasgow, Scotland here. I called it a ‘skelf’. (b1966)
Quipore on
Would this be because of television? If on the Television they only call it a Splinter, it would make sense for it to take hold in younger people and to replace older terms, right?
That’s the only thing I can think of to explain this.
DieKaiserVerbindung on
I’m in the US and have lived in a few different regions and know both are used, but just speaking for myself, I say “splinter” when it happens (“I just got a splinter,”) but if it’s really worked in there and it’s a few days later that I’m prying it out I say “sliver.” 🤷♂️
Outta_phase on
Damn stubborn Northumbrians, like a spelk that won’t come out!
WuKuba on
Power of TV
Uskog on
So supposedly there is an area on the Durham-North Yorkshire border where people used to say splinter in 1950 but later switched to “spelk”?
Overall-Tree-5769 on
Sliver = glass or metal
Splinter = wood
Murador888 on
Why is Ireland included in this? Makes no sense.
LeadershipExternal58 on
Master Splinter
thehistorynovice on
Skelf in Scotland
Eragon089 on
I mean, im geordie and have never heard anyone say a spelk but sure
Smash_Palace on
That’s more than a bit sad to see the homogenisation of language
JACC_Opi on
The data is too incomplete to draw proper conclusions.
Wooden-Mallet on
I’m a West midlander and my partner is a Geordie.
I’m also a carpenter.
Imagine my confusion the first few months of dating asking how my spelk was.
14 Comments
Glasgow, Scotland here. I called it a ‘skelf’. (b1966)
Would this be because of television? If on the Television they only call it a Splinter, it would make sense for it to take hold in younger people and to replace older terms, right?
That’s the only thing I can think of to explain this.
I’m in the US and have lived in a few different regions and know both are used, but just speaking for myself, I say “splinter” when it happens (“I just got a splinter,”) but if it’s really worked in there and it’s a few days later that I’m prying it out I say “sliver.” 🤷♂️
Damn stubborn Northumbrians, like a spelk that won’t come out!
Power of TV
So supposedly there is an area on the Durham-North Yorkshire border where people used to say splinter in 1950 but later switched to “spelk”?
Sliver = glass or metal
Splinter = wood
Why is Ireland included in this? Makes no sense.
Master Splinter
Skelf in Scotland
I mean, im geordie and have never heard anyone say a spelk but sure
That’s more than a bit sad to see the homogenisation of language
The data is too incomplete to draw proper conclusions.
I’m a West midlander and my partner is a Geordie.
I’m also a carpenter.
Imagine my confusion the first few months of dating asking how my spelk was.