shrapnel

1. (military, historical) An anti-personnel artillery shell used in World War I which carries a large number of individual bullets or balls close to the target and then ejects them to allow them to continue along the shell's trajectory and strike the target individually.historicaluncountableusually

2. (military, historical) The bullets or balls from the aforementioned type of artillery shell.historicaluncountableusually

3. (military) Any shot, fragments, or debris thrown out by an exploding shell, bomb, or landmine.uncountableusually

4. (by extension, figurative) Debris.Examples: "The dog ate my sandwich, and there was shrapnel all over the place from him tearing open the bag."broadlyfigurativelyuncountableusually

5. (slang, figurative) Loose change.Examples: "I was waiting in the queue, looking at the board / Wondering whether to have a burger or chips / Or what the shrapnel in my back pocket could afford"figurativelyslanguncountableusually