Gaiters
Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and bottom of the pant or trouser leg and used primarily as
Originally, gaiters were made of leather or canvas. Today, those for walking are commonly made of plasticized synthetic cloth such as nylon or polyester. Gaiters for use on horseback continue to be made of leather. They are made to cover the gap between the pants and boots, rising to just below the knee, and usually have drawcords for tightening. Wearing gaiters, while preventing most snake bites, does not provide complete protection.
Common materials for leg gaiters on the market are canvas, nylon, Cordura, Kevlar, and leather. Nylon is better at preventing snakebite than polyester, canvas, or Cordura.[citation needed]
Military origins and terminology
Beginning in 1700, most infantry in European armies adopted long linen gaiters, or spatterdashes, as a protective leg covering to be worn over the woollen stockings that were a common feature in both military and civilian dress. By the 1770s military gaiters were often shortened to mid-calf length ("half-gaiters") for convenience in the field.[1]
In army parlance, a gaiter covers leg and bootlacing; a legging covers only the leg. In
On foot
Gaiters are a type of protective clothing for a person's
Gaiters fill the same function as puttees, a part of numerous military uniforms. Gaiters known as jambieres (derived from the French word jambe for legs, hence leggings) were part of the uniform of Zouave infantry regiments.
On horseback
During the 19th century gaiters for riding typically were known as riding gaiters, distinguishing them from the other gaiters that were in general use.[
In the Anglican church
Gaiters formed a part of the everyday clerical clothing of bishops and archdeacons of the Church of England until the middle part of the twentieth century. They were also worn by some cathedral deans. They were made of black cotton, wool, or silk, and buttoned up the sides, reaching to just below the knee where they would join with black breeches. Gaiters would be worn with a clerical apron, a type of short cassock reaching to just above the knee. The purpose of this vesture was originally practical, since archdeacons and bishops were presumed to be mobile, riding horses to various parts of a diocese or archdeaconry. In latter years, the clothing took on a more symbolic dimension.[4]
See also
References
- ISBN 0-214-65349-8.
- ^ Henry, Mark (2003), The US Army of World War I, Oxford: Osprey.
- ^ Nark, Jason (20 June 2018). "Venomous passion: Pennsylvania's snake hunters head to the hills". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Through the Years with Gaiters, Anglicans Online.
External links
- Media related to Gaiters at Wikimedia Commons
- The dictionary definition of gaiter at Wiktionary
- Through the Years with Gaiters from Anglicans Online