Shārd, n.
n. [A-S. sceard, from sceran, to shear, cut, share, part; Icel. skard, a breaking, cutting, Dan. skaar, L. Ger. & D. schaard, H. Ger. scharte, O. H. Ger. scarti. Cf. SHERD.] [Written also sheard and sherd.]
Sense 1. A piece or fragment of an earthen vessel, or of a like brittle substance. [Obs.] Shak.
Sense 2. Hence, the hard wing-case of a beetle.
They are his shards, and he their beetle. Shak.
Sense 3. The shell of an egg or of a snail. Gower.
Sense 4. A certain plant; chard. See CHARD. Dryden.
Sense 5. A gap in a fence. [Obs.] Stanhurst.
Sense 6. A boundary. [Obs.] “In Phædria’s fleet bark, over that parlous shard.” Spenser.
Sense 7. A certain fish. [Obs.]