Smithereens

One of the Irish language’s smaller gifts to English. Smidiríní means fragments or little bits: ina smidiríní is “in smithereens.”

The English word appeared in print by the late 18th century. Its exact route is uncertain, but Merriam-Webster traces it probably to Irish smidiríní, the diminutive of smiodar, a fragment. English kept the plural and made it violent. Things are rarely placed gently into smithereens. They are smashed, blasted or blown there.