Sherd is actually a brief from of “potsherd,” defined as a broken piece of ceramic material, especially one found on an archaeological site. In general, “sherd” only refers to pieces or fragments of pottery whereas “shard” may refer to broken bits of glass, metal, rock, and ceramics.

Whats the difference between sherd and shard?

Shard dates back to Old English (where it was spelled sceard), and it is related to the Old English word scieran, meaning to cut. English speakers have adopted the modernized shard spelling for most uses, but archeologists prefer to spell the word sherd when referring to the ancient fragments of pottery they unearth.

What is a sherd in Archaeology?

A sherd is a broken piece of pottery with edges that are sharp, usually referring to one that is found in an archaeological site. In essence, the words shard and sherd are interchangeable, though the term sherd is favored by archaeologists.

What is a sherd called that is written on after it has been broken?

Dictionaries now include two standard spellings, “shard” and “sherd,” but most of them consider “sherd” a variant of the more common “shard.” However, Oxford Dictionaries online defines “sherd” specifically as a short form of “potsherd,” a broken piece of pottery, especially one found at an archaeological site.

What is a shard of pottery?

A shard is simply a broken piece of metal, glass, stone, or pottery with sharp edges. Dont confuse shard with shred, meaning to cut into strips, or chard, a leafy green vegetable.

What is broken pottery called?

A definition of sherd, according to Merriam Websters online dictionary, is “a fragment of a pottery vessel found on sites and in refuse deposits where pottery-making peoples have lived.” However, shard is a more generic term for “a piece or fragment of a brittle substance.” In short, sherd (short for potsherd) goes

What can pottery tell us about the past?

The decoration itself is often an insight into the past, being made from fingernail impressions or fingerprints, and is a way of getting closer to people from the past. Analysis of the inside of pottery vessels can tell us what it might have contained.

What is the most likely meaning of disparaging?

When you are disparaging, you express negative, low opinions in order to lower someones reputation. Your friend will probably not appreciate it if you make disparaging comments about his girlfriend.

What are the most likely meaning of the idiom?

: more likely than not : probably It will most likely rain tomorrow.