shiver (v.2) Look up shiver at Dictionary.com
"to break in or into pieces," c.1200, from the source of shiver (n.). Chiefly in phrase shiver me timbers (1835), "a mock oath attributed in comic fiction to sailors" [OED]. My timbers! as a nautical oath is attested from 1789 (see timber (n.)). Related: Shivered; shivering.
shiver (v.1) Look up shiver at Dictionary.com
"shake," c.1400, alteration of chiveren (c.1200), of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old English ceafl "jaw," on notion of chattering teeth. Spelling change of ch- to sh- is probably from influence of shake. Related: Shivered; shivering.
shiver (n.) Look up shiver at Dictionary.com
"small piece," c.1200, probably related to Middle Low German schever, schiver "splinter," from Proto-Germanic *skif- "split" (cf. Old High German skivaro, German Schiefer "splinter, slate"). Commonly in phrases to shivers. Also, shiver is still dialectal for "a splinter" in Norfolk and Lincolnshire.