smithereens (English)
Where does "smithereens" come from?
The origin of the English word 'smithereens' remains uncertain[1]. It is often compared to the Irish 'smidiríní' or 'smiodairíní'[1], which is built from the base noun 'smiodar' meaning 'broken piece' or 'fragment', the diminutive suffix '-ín', and a plural ending[1][2]. Other suggested relatives include the English word 'smither' meaning 'fragment' or 'atom' combined with the Irish English diminutive suffix '-een', as well as the Hiberno-English terms 'smaddereen' and 'smithered'[1].
Open questions
- The proposed cognates and loan sources, including the Irish and Hiberno-English forms, were all attested later than the English word itself, leaving its precise origin disputed. [1]
Ancestors
- smidiríní (Irish)
Sources
Updated October 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris