The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SLIVERS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
L
I
V
E
R
S
More clues leading to the result SLIVERS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Splinters" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case splinters = slivers.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SLIVERS mean?
SLIVERS noun- A long piece cut or rent off; a sharp, slender fragment; a splinter.
- A strand, or slender roll, of cotton or other fiber in a loose, untwisted state, produced by a carding machine and ready for the roving or slubbing which precedes spinning.
- Bait made of pieces of small fish. Compare kibblings.
- A narrow high-rise apartment building.
- To cut or divide into long, thin pieces, or into very small pieces; to cut or rend lengthwise; to slit.