Screed

Screed \skreed\ , noun;
1. A long discourse or essay, especially a diatribe
2. An informal letter, account, or other piece of writing
3. Britain: A fragment or shred, as of cloth
4. Scotland: A tear or rip, especially in cloth
5. Scotland: A drinking bout

This word is first attested in 1315 and it's a variation on shred, which comes from Old English screade. Screade comes from West Germanic *skraudas, which derives from the Proto-Indo-European base *skreu- ("to cut, cutting tool"). *Skreu- is also the forebear of shroud via Proto-Germanic *skrud- ("cut"), West Germanic *skruthan, and Old English scrud ("a garment, clothing").