Shred, n.
Etymology: [OE. shrede, schrede, AS. screáde; akin to OD. schroode, G. schrot a piece cut off, Icel. skrjothr a shred, and to E. shroud. Cf. Screed, Scroll, Scrutiny.]
1. A long, narrow piece cut or torn off; a strip. "Shreds of tanned leather." Bacon.
2. In general, a fragment; a piece; a particle. Shak.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Shred, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Shred or Shredded (; p. pr. & vb. n. Shredding.]
1. To cut or tear into small pieces, particularly narrow and long pieces, as of cloth or leather. Chaucer.
2. To lop; to prune; to trim. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for shred; he lists it under particle.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.