O.E.
screade "piece cut off," from W.Gmc.
*skraudas (cf. M.L.G.
schrot "piece cut off," O.H.G.
scrot, "a cutting, piece cut off," Ger.
Schrot "small shot," O.N.
skrydda "shriveled skin"), from PIE base
*skreu- "to cut, cutting tool" (cf. L.
scrutari "to search, examine," from
scruta "trash, frippery;" O.E.
scrud "dress, garment;" see
shroud). The verb is from O.E.
screadian "prune, cut" (cf. M.Du.
scroden, Du.
schroeien, O.H.G.
scrotan, Ger.
schroten "to shred").
Shredded wheat is recorded fron 1899;
shredder in the paper disposal sense is from 1950.