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▪ I. † ˈsplitter, n.1 Obs.
[a. LG. splitter (G. splitter, Sw. splittra), related to splîten to split.]
A splinter. (Cf. spleter.)
1546Langley tr. Pol. Verg. de Invent. ii. xi. 54 b, The winter garlandes..which are made of wode splitters or Iuerie died with many colores began to be had in quotidian usage. 1602Segar Honor, Milit. & Civ. 168 The seuenth encounter was between John Marshal and Bouciquaut, who was somewhat hurt with a splitter. 1616J. Lane Contn. Sqr.'s T. xii. 120 Theie meete amidd:..so that bothe brokenn splitters flewe in th' aier.
▪ II. splitter, n.2|ˈsplɪtə(r)|
[f. split v. + -er1.]
1. a. One who, or that which, splits or cleaves, in various senses.
1648Hexham ii, Een Kliever, a Cleaver, or a Splitter. 1706Stevens Span. Dict., Rajador, a Hewer, a Cleaver, a Splitter. 1731Swift Div. Ch. Livings Misc. (1735) V. 127 How shou'd we rejoice, if..Those Splitters of Parsons in sunder shou'd burst. 1839Ure Dict. Arts 1141 The splitter begins by dividing the block [of slate]..to a proper size. 1889Welch Text Bk. Naval Archit. iv. 77 For lap⁓work, a tool called a splitter is employed to make a split in one of the edges. 1890W. J. Gordon Foundry 144 It is taken from the annealing-kiln..to be cut up by the ‘splitter’ to the best advantage.
b. spec. One employed in splitting fish.
1623Whitbourne Newfoundland 82 Seuen are to be skilfull headders, and splitters of fish. c1682J. Collins Salt & Fishery 91 The Splitters immediately split them, beginning at the Tail, and so continue to the Head, close by the back Fin. 1761Ann. Reg., Chron. 188/2 Every boat⁓master, splitter, and master voyage [sic], who are the chief people among the fishermen. 1822Hibbert Descr. Shetl. Isl. 519 A splitter, as he is called, then, with a large knife, cuts a fish open from the head to the tail. 1883L. Z. Joncas Fisheries Canada 16 The splitter now seizes the fish, and with a single stroke of his knife he removes the back bone.
c. Austr. A wood-cutter.
1841in Lang Phillipsland (1847) 133 Mokitte shot near Mount Cole; it is said by a (timber) Splitter. 1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, Splitter, a name in Tasmania for a wood-cutter. 1870A. L. Gordon Bush Ballads 32 At the splitter's tent I had seen the track of horse-hoofs.
d. An auxiliary set of gears that provides a set of ratios between those of the main gearbox. Freq. attrib.
1963Automobile Engineer LIII. 228/2 An overdrive in front of the gearbox can be used as a splitter gear..to provide intermediate ratios between any two of the gearbox. These can be engaged without operating the clutch. 1967Economist 8 July (Commercial Vehicles Suppl.) p. xxx/1, Even when there are enough speeds in the splitter box (which may be either in front or behind the normal box) rear axles are getting more complicated. 1977Belfast Tel. 27 Jan. 21/8 (Advt.), 1969 Leyland Super Commet, 6-wheel Tipper, fitted with p.a.s., splitter box, 401 engine. 1977‘D. Rutherford’ Return Load ii. 32 ‘How many gears have you got?’ ‘Thirteen forward and two reverse.’..‘It's got a splitter.’ Sally said..‘You don't have to move the gear lever thirteen times.’
2. fig.
a. In phrases: One who makes fine or subtle distinctions.
a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Splitter-of-Causes, a Lawyer. 1771Ann. Reg., Hist. Europe 32/1 Of which they were as well qualified to judge as the most acute and subtil splitter of cases in all the courts. 1863M. E. Braddon Aurora Floyd vi, The splitter of metaphysical straws and chopper of logic.
b. One who favours minute subdivision in scientific classification.
1887Darwin's Life & Lett. II. 105 note, Those who make many species are the ‘splitters’, and those who make few are the ‘lumpers’. 1898Athenæum 22 Jan. 123/1 Babington belonged to that category of botanists..denominated ‘splitters’.
3. A splitting headache.
1860Thackeray Lovel v. (1869) 224, I have got such a splitter of a headache. 1886Punch 27 Nov. 263 Next morning Mr. Dumpkin has a headache, such a Splitter!!
4. One who causes splitting of votes.
1895Westm. Gaz. 4 Mar. 2/2 The figure cut by the splitters themselves has in all cases been very poor.
5. Hunting slang. A first-rate hunt.
1843Ainsworth's Mag. III. 219 ‘What a fine country before us!’ observes a third; ‘what a splitter we shall have!’ says a fourth. 1976Shooting Times & Country Mag. 16–22 Dec. 25/2 There was more than a holding scent and..we were in for a splitter.
▪ III. ˈsplitter, v. rare.
[f. split v. + -er5, or ad. G. splittern.]
intr. To break into fragments.
1860Thackeray Round. Papers, Week's Holiday, Atlas..would drop the moon..on to the white marble floor, and it would splitter into perdition. 1896Daily News 29 Apr. 7/3 Called of God to save Russia from the ‘splittering’ which has filled Europe with rival creeds. |