la astilla

Definition & meaning

• Splinter: A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, bone, glass, or other material that has broken off from a larger piece. It often refers to a fragment that accidentally pierces the skin.
• Share/Cut (colloquial): In some Spanish-speaking regions, it is used colloquially to refer to a portion of money or a cut of profits, especially in illegal or under-the-table transactions.
• Idiomatic use: The phrase "de tal palo, tal astilla" (from such a stick, such a splinter) is a common proverb equivalent to the English "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," meaning a child resembles their parent in character or behavior.

Grammar & Word origin

• Grammar: It is a feminine noun (la astilla).
• Origin: The word comes from the Late Latin astella, which is a diminutive form of the Latin astula (a chip or splinter of wood). It shares an etymological root with the word asta (spear or shaft).

Synonyms & antonyms

• Synonyms:

  • Esquirla ↗ (usually for bone or hard material)
  • Esquije ↗
  • Fragmento ↗
  • Pizca ↗ (when referring to a small bit or piece)
  • Astillazo ↗ (referring to the blow or the wound caused by one)

• Antonyms:

  • Bloque ↗ (as it represents the whole mass rather than a small piece)
  • Tronco ↗ (the main body from which the splinter originates)