Whilst on a quest for more info. on tsuwm's davit, I came across this word in Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
LAN'GREL, n.

Langrel shot or langrage, is a particular kind of shot used at sea for tearing sails and rigging, and thus disabling an enemy's ship. It consists of bolts, nails and other pieces of iron fastened together.

This def. sounds very similar to what I understand shrapnel is. Is there any relation between the two words, does anybody know?
Just thought of this--the word mongrel means mixture, doesn't it? Is it related to langrel?