sliv·er 
(slĭvər)
(slĭvər)n.
1. A slender piece cut, split, or broken off; a splinter: slivers of broken glass.
2. A small narrow piece, portion, or plot: a sliver of land.
3. A continuous strand of loose fiber, such as wool, flax, silk, or cotton, ready to be roved or spun.
tr. & intr.v. sliv·ered, sliv·er·ing, sliv·ers
To split or become split into slivers.
[Middle English slivere, from sliven, to split, from Old English slīfan.]