gaiter

UK: /ˈɡeɪtə/ US: /ˈgeɪtɚ/ ,(gā′tər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

gait•er /ˈgeɪtɚ/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a cloth or leather covering for the ankle and instep and sometimes also the lower leg.
2. Clothing a cloth or leather shoe with elastic insertions at the sides.
3. Clothing an overshoe with a cloth top.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

gait•er  (gā′tər), n. 

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

• Frankish *wrist, cognate with German Rist ankle, wrist. See wrist
• French guêtre, Middle French guiestre, guestre, perh.
• 1765–75

gai′ter•less, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gaiter / ˈɡeɪtə/ noun (often plural)

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

Etymology: 18th Century: from French guêtre, probably of Germanic origin and related to wrist

ˈgaiterless adjective