gaiter

[ gey-ter ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a covering of cloth or leather for the ankle and instep and sometimes also the lower leg, worn over the shoe or boot. Compare upper ¹( def 7 ).
a cloth or leather shoe with elastic insertions at the sides.
an overshoe with a fabric top.

gaiter

/ ˈɡeɪtə /

a cloth or leather covering for the leg or ankle buttoned on one side and usually strapped under the foot
Also calledspat a similar covering extending from the ankle to the instep
a waterproof covering for the ankle worn by climbers and walkers to prevent snow, mud, or gravel entering over the top of the boot

Origin of gaiter¹

1765–75; < French guêtre, Middle French guiestre, guestre, perhaps < Frankish *wrist, cognate with German Rist ankle, wrist. See wrist

Origin of gaiter¹

C18: from French guêtre, probably of Germanic origin and related to wrist

They crept and crept, the hem of her petticoat just touching his gaiter, and his elbow sometimes brushing hers.

He could stand in front of a battalion, and with a single sweep tell you if a buckle or a gaiter button were out of place.

He said, “The hand that held my foot was icy cold, and the nimble fingers that unbuttoned the gaiter were burning hot.”

One of the party, a gentleman of veracity, had his gaiter unbuttoned while sitting in the circle.

Yes, Hanny Underhill was a little girl again in gaiter-length dresses, and her braids tied across at the back of her head.

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