From Middle English scateren, skateren, (also schateren, see shatter), from Old English *sceaterian, probably from a dialect of Old Norse. Possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *skey- ("to cut, split, shatter"). Compare Middle Dutch scheteren ("to scatter"), Low German schateren, Dutch schateren ("to burst out laughing"); and is apparently remotely akin to Ancient Greek σκεδάννυμι ("scatter, disperse"). shatter.
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