Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Shrapnel \Shrap"nel\, a.
   Applied as an appellation to a kind of shell invented by Gen.
   H. Shrapnel of the British army. -- n. A shrapnel shell;
   shrapnel shells, collectively.

   {Shrapnel shell} (Gunnery), a projectile for a cannon,
      consisting of a shell filled with bullets and a small
      bursting charge to scatter them at any given point while
      in flight. See the Note under {Case shot}.

Source : WordNet®

shrapnel
     n : shell containing lead pellets that explodes in flight