To mamalynne , factor30 and cupid04. Following your comments , I had a good long think and decided the answer was " Shrapnel" Are you happy with that ?
Is this the SCRUPLES clue?
Shrapnel fits the letters you gave us (S-R-P-E-) but I'll need to work out the link to the clue you gave which was SCRUPLES.
Or did you provide the wrong clue?