shard (n.) Look up shard at Dictionary.com
Old English sceard "fragment, gap," from Proto-Germanic *skardas, a past participle from the root of Old English sceran "to cut" (see shear). Cf. Dutch schaard "a flaw, a fragment," German Scharte "a notch," Danish skaar "chink, potsherd." Meaning "fragment of broken earthenware" developed in late Old English. French écharde "prickle, splinter" is a Germanic loan-word.